Types of Personal Injury Compensation

You may be qualified for compensation if suffered an injury due to inattention or wrongdoing by another person. Learn about the types of damages you can be awarded by speaking to a personal injury attorney near you.

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

Economic Damages

When a person is injured in an accident, they could be entitled to economic damages. These could include medical costs as well as lost wages and property damage.

These kinds of damages can be extremely expensive, especially if they are serious injuries. This is because they require intensive treatment. In addition to hospitalization, the victims could be required to pay for prescription medications and mobility equipment once they recover.

These expenses can quickly mount up, so it is important to keep receipts. These receipts will help you determine the true cost of your losses and increase the value of your compensation.

In personal injury cases, loss of earnings and future earnings are the most common kinds of economic loss. This is due to the fact that a victim could be in a position of no work for months, weeks, or years after an accident. In these instances the victim must receive the amount they could have earned if they had been able to work.

A person who is disabled or lost loved ones because of an accident could be entitled to damages for life-care services. These include nursing, home health, and physical therapy services and many more.

Many people also require help doing the things that they used to do before their accident. This includes household chores, driving a vehicle, caring for the outdoors and taking care of family members who are dependent.

In these instances, an attorney may be able to provide receipts, bills, and other proof of the cost of these items. They can also engage experts to testify about the worth of these damages.

The value of these damages could vary widely depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident as well as the needs of the victim. A jury will typically consider many factors when awarding economic damages.

Some examples of these damages could be:

Pain and suffering

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

Emotional distress

This kind of compensation compensates victims for emotional trauma caused by an injury. This includes depression, anxiety, personal injury lawsuits and loss in enjoyment.

Disfigurement

A person who is injured and has been permanently damaged by an accident may be eligible for this. It is a costly procedure, as many people need surgeries and other treatments to repair or remove disfigurements.

The loss of companionship and the consortium

The purpose of this award is to provide compensation for the loss suffered by someone you love due to the loss. This is especially important when the victim has children or other dependents.

Non-economic damages are an independent part of the legal system that is distinct as is economic damage, and are much less common. While they can have the burden of proof higher in the case of non-economic damages, they are more difficult to assess and are not subject to the same restrictions as economic damages.