Types of Personal Injury Compensation

You could be qualified for compensation if suffered an injury as a result of negligence or the wrongdoing of another party. Find out about the kinds of damages you could get by speaking with an attorney who specializes in personal injury near you.

There are two main categories of damages that can be given in personal injury lawyer injury cases that are non-economic and economic damages. This article will discuss the two categories and explain how they affect the amount you can claim for compensation.

Economic Damages

When 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.

These kinds of damages can be expensive, personal injury especially when there are serious injuries. This is because they will require intensive treatment. As they heal, victims may have to pay for mobility equipment or prescription medications.

These expenses can quickly add up, so it is important to keep receipts. These receipts will allow you to establish the value of your losses and increase your compensation.

Other common forms of economic damages in personal injury cases include loss of earnings and future income. This is because victims may be out-of-work for months, weeks, or even for years following an accident. In this case, the compensation award must reflect the amount the victim would have earned if they had not been in a position to work.

A victim who is disabled or has lost a loved one due to an accident may be entitled to damages for life-care services. These services include home health, nursing and physical therapy.

Many people also require assistance in the activities they did prior to their accident. These could include household chores, driving, taking care of the environment, and even providing care for the family member who is dependent.

In these cases an attorney might be competent to provide receipts and bills and other evidence of the cost of these items. They can also engage 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 that led to the accident. A jury will usually consider various factors when determining damages.

These damages can include:

The two most painful things in this world are pain and suffering.

This is usually given to those who are victims of serious accidents who suffer emotional or physical injuries due to the accident. These awards could be minor (a few dollars for personal injury suffering) or large (millions in a case of wrongful death).

Emotional distress

The type of damages mentioned above is targeted at redressing the emotional strain that an injury can cause the victim. This can include anxiety, depression and a loss of enjoyment.

Disfigurement

This can be given to someone who has been permanently disfigured because of the accident. It can be expensive as many people require surgery or other procedures to correct or remove imperfections.

The loss of companionship and the consortium

This damages award is meant to cover the loss of the loved one due to the accident. This is particularly important for victims who have children or dependents.

Non-economic damages are a distinct 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 restrictions as economic damages.