Types of Personal Injury Compensation
If you've suffered an injury because of the negligence or misconduct of another party you could be entitled to compensation. Speak with a
personal injury law firms injury lawyer near you to learn more about the possible damages you can receive.
There are two major kinds of damages that could be awarded in
personal injury lawsuits including economic and non-economic damages. This article will discuss the two categories and explain how they can affect the amount you're entitled to for compensation.
Economic Damages
If a person is injured in an accident, they may be entitled for financial damages. These can include medical expenses as well as lost wages and property damage.
Often, these types of damage can be very costly especially in the event of serious injuries. Since they require extensive medical attention. As they heal, victims may require prescription medication or mobility equipment.
These expenses can add up quickly, so it is critical to keep receipts for them. These receipts will help demonstrate the true value of your losses as well as increase your compensation.
In personal injury cases, the loss of earnings and future income are typical forms of economic damage. This is because a victim may be in a position of no work for weeks, months or even years following an accident. In this scenario, the compensation award must reflect the amount the victim could have earned if they were not unable to work.
If someone is disabled or an individual in the family dies due to an accident, the victim could be entitled to damages for the services they received in life. These include nursing, home health, and physical therapy.
Many people also need assistance to complete the tasks they used to do before their accident. These could include household chores, driving a vehicle, taking care of the outdoors and even providing care for the family member who is dependent.
In these cases the attorney might be competent to provide receipts and bills and
personal injury Lawsuits other proof of the value of these items. They may also employ experts to testify regarding the value of these damages.
These damages can be valued differently based upon the specific needs of the victim and the circumstances surrounding the incident. In general, juries take into consideration a variety of factors when determining an award of economic damages.
These damages can include:
Pain and suffering
This is typically given to those who have suffered from severe accidents who suffer emotional or physical injuries as a result of the accident. These awards may be small (a few dollars for suffering) or huge (millions in the event of wrongful death).
Emotional distress
This type of damages is targeted at redressing the emotional strain that an injury can cause the victim. This can include anxiety, depression, and loss in enjoyment.
Disfigurement
An injured person who is permanently damaged as a result of an accident may be eligible for this. It can be very costly, as many people need procedures and other treatments in order to fix or remove disfigurements.
Loss of companionship and consortium
The purpose of this award is to compensate the loss of someone you love as a result of the accident. This is especially relevant for those who have dependents or children.
The awarding of non-economic damages is a separate part of the legal system as opposed to economic damages, and is much rarer. While they are subject to the burden of proof higher and are more difficult to prove, non-economic damages are generally more difficult to value and are not subject to the same restrictions as economic damages.