Are my future medical costs reduced to present value in a Georgia verdict?

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Future medical costs in a Georgia verdict are generally stated in present-value terms, meaning the jury translates the full future expense into the lump sum that, invested today, would cover those costs as they come due. The reasoning is that a dollar awarded now is worth more than a dollar spent years from now, so awarding the raw future total would overcompensate.

The statute that governs the reduction

Georgia addresses this directly. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-13, the trier of fact may reduce future expenses, wages, and other economic damages to present value using a discount rate of 5 percent or any other rate it deems appropriate. The statute leaves the choice of rate to the jury’s judgment within that framework, so the 5 percent figure is a default reference point rather than a rigid mandate.

This reduction applies to the economic portion of an award, including future medical care, future attendant or nursing care, and lost future earnings. It does not reach non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, which are not reduced to present value in the same way.

How the calculation reaches the jury

Because present-value math is technical, the calculation usually comes from an economist who testifies at trial. The economist takes the future medical figures, often drawn from a life-care plan, and discounts them to today’s dollars, explaining the rate used and the assumptions behind it. Both sides may present competing economists, and the jury decides which approach is sound.

Key points about how this works:

  • Only economic damages are reduced; pain and suffering are not.
  • The jury may use 5 percent or another rate it finds appropriate.
  • The statute does not allow evidence of the cost of a specific annuity or other private investment product.

The bottom line

In a Georgia verdict, future medical costs are typically awarded at present value under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-13, which lets the jury apply a 5 percent or other appropriate discount rate. Expert economic testimony usually guides that reduction, ensuring the award reflects the present worth of a lifetime of future care rather than its undiscounted total.

This article is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship, and Georgia law may change. For advice about a specific situation, consult a licensed Georgia personal injury attorney.

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