Types of Personal Injury Compensation

If you've suffered an injury due to an individual's negligence or wrongdoing you could be entitled to compensation. Contact an attorney who handles personal injury cases near you to find out more about the possible damages you can receive.

There are two main types of damages that may be awarded in personal injury lawsuits that are non-economic and economic damages. This article will explore these categories and show how they could impact the amount of compensation you are entitled to receive.

Economic Damages

If a person is injured in an accident, they could be entitled to compensation for their losses. These could include medical costs along with lost wages and property damage.

These types of damages can often be very expensive, particularly if there are serious injuries. This is due to the fact that they require extensive treatment. After recovering, patients may require prescription medication or mobility equipment.

These expenses can mount up quickly, which is why it is important to keep receipts of these expenses. The receipts you keep will help you determine the true value of your losses as well as increase the value of your compensation.

In personal injury cases, loss of wages and personal injury lawsuits future income are common types of economic damages. This is because a victim might be not working for weeks, months or even years following an accident. In these cases, the victim should receive the amount they would have earned if they were able to work.

If a person is disabled or the death of a family member occurs due to an accident, the victim may be able to claim damages for services related to life. This could include nursing home care, home health care, and physical therapy services, among others.

Many people also require help doing the things that they did prior to their accident. These include house chores, driving a car as well as caring for the environment and taking care of the dependent family member.

In these instances an attorney may be competent to provide receipts and bills and other proof of the value of these items. They may also employ experts to testify regarding the value of these damages.

The amount of damages awarded can be determined differently based on the specific needs of the victim and the circumstances surrounding the incident. A jury will usually consider several factors when determining the amount of damages.

Examples of these damage could include:

The two most painful aspects of life are suffering and pain

This is usually given to those who are victims of serious accidents who have suffered physical or emotional injuries as a result of the accident. The awards can be small (a few dollars for suffering) or substantial (millions in the case of wrongful death).

Emotional distress

This kind of compensation 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 is permanently damaged due to an accident can receive this. This can be costly since many people require surgery or other procedures to correct or eliminate imperfections.

Loss of companionship and consortium

The purpose of this award is to pay for the loss of a loved one in the event of an accident. This is especially crucial for those who have dependents or children.

The award of non-economic damages are a distinct part of the legal system that is distinct from economic damages, and it is more rare. While they are subject to the burden of proof higher however, non-economic damages are typically more difficult to value and are not subject to the same restrictions as economic damages.