Types of Personal Injury Compensation
You could be qualified for compensation if suffered an injury as a result of the negligence or wrongdoing of a third party. Contact an attorney who handles personal injury cases near you to learn more about the damages you could receive.
There are two main categories of damages that can be awarded in personal injury lawsuits which are economic and non-economic damages. This article will go over these categories and discuss how they might affect the amount of compensation you're entitled to.
Economic Damages
A person may be entitled to financial compensation after being injured in an accident. personal injury attorneys port st lucie can include medical expenses, lost earnings, and property damage.
These types of damage can often be very expensive, particularly if there are serious injuries. This is because they will require intensive treatment. After recovering, patients might need to pay for prescription medication or mobility equipment.
These expenses can add up quickly, which is why it is crucial to keep receipts for these expenses. These receipts will help you determine the true cost of your losses and boost the value of your compensation.
Other common types of economic damages in personal injury cases comprise loss of earnings and future earnings. The reason for this is that victims can be out of work for a period of weeks, months and even years after an accident. In these cases the victim should be compensated the amount they would have received if they had been able to work.
A victim who is disabled or lost a loved one as a result of an accident may be entitled to damages for life-care services. These include home health, nursing and physical therapy.
Many people also require assistance to complete the tasks they did prior to their accident. These include household chores, driving a car or taking care of the outdoors and providing childcare for a dependent family member.
An attorney could be able to provide receipts and bills or other evidence to prove the cost of these items in these cases. They can also engage experts to testify regarding the worth of these damages.
These damages can be valued differently depending on the specific requirements of the victim as well as the circumstances surrounding the accident. In general, juries consider a wide range of factors when making an award of economic damages.
These damages can include:
The two most painful things that happen in life are suffering and pain
This is typically given to those who have suffered from severe accidents who suffer emotional or physical injuries due to the accident. These awards can range from relatively minor (a couple of dollars for pain and suffering) to massive sums of money (millions of dollars in a case of wrongful death).
Emotional distress
This kind of damage is intended to alleviate the emotional trauma that an injury can cause a victim. This includes anxiety, depression and a loss of enjoyment.
Disfigurement
It can be given to an injured person who is permanently damaged due to the accident. It can be expensive as many require surgery and other treatments to correct or eliminate imperfections.
Loss of consortium and companionship
This damages award is designed to pay for the loss of someone you love due to the accident. This is particularly important when the victim has children or other dependents.
The award of non-economic damages is an independent part of the legal system that is distinct from economic damages, and is much rarer. Non-economic damages may be subject to a higher burden of proof, but they are generally more difficult to value than economic damages, and they are not restricted by the same rules.