Types of Personal Injury Compensation
You could be eligible for compensation if were injured due to inattention or wrongdoing by another party. Learn about the types of damages that you can receive by speaking with an attorney who specializes in personal injury near you.
There are two main types of damages that may be awarded in personal injury cases that are non-economic and economic damages. This article will explore these two categories and discuss how they can affect the amount you can claim for compensation.
Economic Damages
A person may be entitled to financial compensation should they be injured in an accident. This could include medical expenses as well as lost wages and property damage.
Most of the time, these types of damages can be extremely costly especially in the case of serious injuries. This is because they will require extensive treatment. In personal injury attorney lake forest to being hospitalized, victims may have to pay for prescription medications and mobility equipment once they recover.
These expenses can mount up quickly, which is why it's crucial to keep receipts for these expenses. These receipts will help determine the true value of your losses and increase your compensation.
Other common forms of economic damages in personal injury cases comprise loss of earnings and future income. This is because the victim could be out-of-work for a period of weeks, months and even years after an accident. In this instance the award of compensation should reflect the amount that the victim could have earned if they were not in a position to work.
If someone is disabled or someone in the family dies due to an accident, the victim may be entitled to compensation for services related to life. These services include nursing, home health, and physical therapy.
Many people also require assistance doing the things that they did prior to their accident. These include house chores, driving a vehicle, caring for the outdoors and taking care of family members who are dependent.
In these situations the attorney might be capable of providing receipts, bills as well as other evidence of the value of these items. They can also employ experts to testify about the value of these damages.
These damages are valued differently based upon the specific requirements of the victim as well as the circumstances surrounding the accident. A jury is typically considering various factors when determining damages.
Some examples of these damages could be:
Pain and suffering
This is typically awarded to victims of severe accidents who have suffered emotional or physical injuries due to the accident. These awards could be small (a few dollars for suffering) or huge (millions in the event of wrongful death).
Emotional distress
This type of damages compensates victims of emotional stress that is caused by an injury. This includes depression, anxiety, and loss in enjoyment.
Disfigurement
This could be given to someone who has been permanently disfigured as a result of the accident. This can be very expensive as many people require procedures and other treatments in order to treat or remove disfigurements.
The loss of companionship and the consortium
This damages award is intended to provide compensation for the loss suffered by someone you love as a result. This is especially important for victims who have children or dependents.
Non-economic damages are a separate part of the legal system apart from economic damages and is much less common. Although they may have a higher burden of proof in the case of non-economic damages, they are more difficult to assess and are not subject to the same limitations as economic damages.