Types of Personal Injury Compensation
You may be entitled to compensation if you were injured due to inattention or wrongdoing by another party. Learn more about the types of damages you can get by speaking with an attorney for personal injury near you.
There are two primary types of damages that can be granted in personal injury cases which are economic and non-economic damages. This article will look at these categories and show how they can impact the amount of compensation you're entitled to.
Economic Damages
A person could be entitled to financial compensation if they are injured in an accident. These damages could include medical expenses, lost earnings, and property damage.
Often, these types of damage can be very costly, particularly in the case of serious injuries. This is because they require extensive treatment. In addition to hospitalization, the victims might need to pay for prescription drugs and mobility equipment as they recover.
These costs can quickly accumulate and it is crucial to keep receipts. Having these receipts will help you determine the true amount of your losses, and also increase the value of your compensation.
Other common forms of economic damages in personal injury cases comprise lost wages and future earnings. This is because victims may be out-of-work for a number of months, weeks and even years following an accident. In this scenario, the compensation award must reflect the amount the victim could have earned if they had not been incapable of working.
A victim who is disabled or lost loved ones as a result of an accident could be entitled to damages for life-care services. These include nursing home care, home health care and physical therapy, among others.
Many people require help with the same duties they completed prior to their accident. These include household chores, driving or taking care of the outdoors, and taking care of an individual in the family who is dependent.
An attorney may be able provide receipts or bills, as well as other evidence to show the value of these items in these cases. They may also engage experts to testify on the worth of these damages.
The amount of these damages could vary significantly based on the circumstances surrounding the accident as well as the specific needs of the victim. Typically, a jury will examine a range of factors when determining an economic damages award.
These damages can include:
Pain and suffering
This award is usually awarded to those injured in serious accidents who have suffered physical or emotional injuries as a consequence of the accident. These awards can range from relatively small (a couple of dollars for suffering and pain) 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 accident causes to a victim. This includes anxiety, depression and a loss of pleasure.
Disfigurement
A person who is injured and is permanently damaged as a result of an accident can receive this. personal injury attorneys maine can be very costly as many people require surgery or other treatments to correct or remove the disfigurements.
Loss of consortium and companionship
This damages award is meant to compensate the loss of someone you love in the event of an accident. This is especially relevant for victims who have children or dependents.
Non-economic damages form a distinct part of the legal system apart from economic damages and is significantly less common. Non-economic damages can be subject to a higher burden of proof, but they are often more difficult to quantify than economic damages and aren't subject to the same limitations as economic damages.