Types of Personal Injury Compensation

You may be eligible for compensation if you sustained an injury due to the negligence or wrongdoing of a third person. Speak with an attorney who handles personal injury cases near you to learn more about the damages you may be entitled to.

There are two main types of damages that may be granted in personal injury cases that are non-economic and economic damages. This article will discuss these two categories , and also explain how they impact the amount you can claim for compensation.

Economic Damages

A person could be entitled to financial compensation if they are injured in an accident. This could include medical expenses as well as lost wages and property damage.

Often, these kinds of damages can be extremely costly especially in the event of serious injuries. They will require an extensive medical treatment. As they recover, personal injury victims might need to pay for mobility equipment or prescription medications.

The cost of these expenses can be astronomical quickly, so it is critical to keep receipts for them. These receipts will help determine the true worth of your losses and increase your compensation.

In personal injury lawsuits injury cases, lost wages and future income are typical kinds of economic loss. The reason for this is that victims can be out of work for a period of weeks, months and even years following an accident. In this scenario the compensation awarded must reflect the amount the victim could have earned if they were not in a position to work.

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

Many people require help doing the things they used to do before their accident. This includes household chores, driving a vehicle taking care of the outdoors, and providing care for the dependent family member.

In these instances an attorney may be capable of providing receipts, bills and other evidence of the value of these items. They can also employ experts to testify on the value of these damages.

The amount of damages awarded can be determined differently based upon the specific requirements of the victim as well as the circumstances surrounding the incident. In general, juries look at a variety of factors when determining an award for economic damages.

Examples of these damages might include:

Pain and suffering

This is usually awarded to victims of severe accidents who have suffered physical or emotional injuries due to the accident. The awards can range from minor (a couple of dollars for suffering and pain) to massive amounts of money (millions of dollars in a wrongful death lawsuit).

Emotional distress

This kind of compensation compensates victims of emotional stress that is caused by an injury. It includes things like depression, anxiety and loss of enjoyment in life.

Disfigurement

An injured person who is permanently damaged due to an accident could be eligible for this. It is a costly procedure as many people require surgeries and other treatments to fix or remove disfigurements.

Loss of companionship and consortium

This damages award is designed to compensate for the loss of a loved one as a result of the accident. This is especially important for those who have dependents or personal injury children.

Non-economic damages are an independent element of the legal system, distinct as is economic damage, and are much less common. Non-economic damages may be subject to a greater burden of proof, however they are often more difficult to determine than economic damages, and they are not subject to the same restrictions as economic damages.