Types of Personal Injury Compensation
You may be entitled to compensation if you sustained an injury due to inattention or wrongdoing by another person. Learn about the types of damages that you can be awarded by speaking to a personal injury attorney near you.
There are two main categories of damages that can be awarded in
personal injury cases that are non-economic and economic damages. This article will go over these categories and discuss how they could impact the amount of compensation you are entitled to receive.
Economic Damages
When a person is injured in an accident, they could be entitled to economic damages. These could include medical costs along with lost wages and property damage.
These kinds of injuries can be expensive, especially if they are serious injuries. Because they will require extensive medical attention. In addition to hospitalization, victims may have to pay for prescription medications and mobility equipment once they recover.
These expenses can mount up quickly, and it is essential to keep receipts for these expenses. Having these receipts will help you determine the true value of your losses as well as increase the value of your compensation.
Other common types of economic damages in
personal injury law firms injury cases include loss of earnings and future earnings. The reason for this is that victims can be out-of-work for weeks, months, or even for years following an accident. In this situation the compensation amount should reflect the amount the victim could have earned if they were not incapable of working.
If a person is disabled or the death of a family member occurs as the result of an accident, the victim could be entitled to damages for services provided to the living. These services include home health, nursing, and physical therapy.
Many people also need assistance in the activities they used to do before their accident. These could include household chores, driving a car as well as taking care of the outdoors, and assisting an individual in the family who is dependent.
An attorney may be able provide receipts or bills, as well as other evidence to show the value of these items in these cases. They may also hire experts to testify about the worth of these damages.
These damages can be valued differently based upon the specific needs of the victim and the circumstances surrounding the accident. In general, juries look at a variety of factors when determining an award for economic damages.
Some examples of these damage could include:
The two most painful aspects of life are suffering and pain
This is usually granted to victims of serious accidents who suffer emotional or physical injuries as a result of the accident. The awards can range from small (a couple of dollars for pain and suffering) to massive amounts of money (millions of dollars in a wrongful-death case).
Emotional distress
This type of damage compensates victims for emotional stress resulting from an injury. It includes things like anxiety, depression and loss of enjoyment in everyday life.
Disfigurement
An injured person who has been permanently damaged by an accident could be eligible for this. It can be very costly as many people require procedures and other treatments in order to repair or remove disfigurements.
Loss of consortium and companionship
The purpose of this award is to pay for the loss of a loved one because of the accident. This is particularly important for those who have children or dependents.
The award of non-economic damages is an independent part of the legal system, distinct from economic damages, and is much rarer. Non-economic damages can be subject to a higher burden of evidence, but they are generally more difficult to assess than economic damages and aren't subject to the same limitations as economic damages.