When you get injured in a car accident, you know that you need to seek compensation for your medical bills. Say you suffered a head injury and you’re looking at over $100,000 in medical bills. You didn’t cause the crash, so you need those bills covered by the person who did.

You also know that you can seek compensation for earnings you miss out on while you’re in the hospital. If you miss work and your income drops, you need it covered because, again, you didn’t cause that crash. But remember that you may also want to include your future earnings in this equation, not just the ones you lose out on immediately.

What if the crash changes your entire career?

For instance, perhaps you’re a surgeon. You spent years — and an incredible amount of money — learning the skills of your trade. You’re well compensated for it and you’ve become one of the most sought-after doctors in your field.

However, you get a head injury in the crash. Most of the symptoms go away with time, but you still struggle just a bit with motor control. It may not matter if you were a construction worker or an office worker, but it’s enough that your career as a surgeon is effectively over. You can’t control the precise movements needed to operate safely.

This could lead to millions in losses in the future, and you expected those earnings. Your family relies on them. You may be able to seek compensation for those losses, even though you hadn’t yet earned the money. Be sure you know what legal steps to take to best protect your future interests.