Types of Personal Injury Compensation
If you've suffered an injury as a result of the negligence or misconduct of another party or wrongdoing, you may be entitled to compensation. Talk to an attorney who handles personal injury cases near you to find out more about the damages you may be entitled to.
There are two main kinds of damages that could be awarded in personal injury cases which are economic and non-economic damages. This article will explore these categories and discuss how they could impact the amount of compensation you are legally entitled to.
Economic Damages
If a person is injured in an accident, they may be entitled to economic damages. These damages can include medical expenses, lost earnings, and property damage.
These types of damage are often very expensive, especially when there are serious injuries. This is because they require extensive treatment. When they recover, patients may require prescription medication or mobility equipment.
These expenses can mount up quickly, which is why it's critical to keep receipts for them. Having these receipts can help you establish the true cost of your losses and increase the value of your compensation.
Other common forms of economic damages in personal injury cases are lost wages and future earnings. This is because victims may be out-of-work for a period of weeks, months and even years after an accident. In this scenario the compensation awarded should reflect the amount that the victim would have earned if they had not been unable to work.
A victim who is disabled or has 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 need assistance doing the things that they did prior to their accident. These include house chores, driving a vehicle and caring for the outdoor as well as taking care of the family member who is dependent.
In these situations an attorney may be in a position to provide receipts, bills, and other proof of the value of these items. They can also engage experts to testify to the worth of these damages.
The amount of these damages can vary widely depending on the circumstances of the accident and the particular needs of the victim. A jury is typically considering many factors when awarding economic damages.
Some examples of these damages could be:
The two most painful things that happen in life are suffering and pain
The award is typically awarded to those who have suffered serious injuries who are suffering physical or emotional injuries as a consequence of the accident. The awards can range from small (a small amount of money for suffering and pain) to massive amounts of money (millions of dollars in a wrongful-death case).
Emotional distress
This type of damages compensates victims for emotional stress caused by an injury. It covers things like anxiety, depression and a loss of pleasure in life.
Disfigurement
A person who is injured and has been permanently damaged by an accident could be eligible for this. It is costly as many people require surgery and other treatments to correct or eliminate imperfections.
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The purpose of this award is to cover the loss of loved ones due to the accident. This is especially important for victims who have children or dependents.
The awarding of non-economic damages is a separate part of the legal system as opposed to economic damages, and is more rare. Although they may have an additional burden of proof in the case of non-economic damages, they are more difficult to assess and are not subject to the same limitations as economic damages.