Types of Personal Injury Compensation
If you've suffered an injury due to an individual's negligence or wrongdoing, you may be entitled to compensation. Speak with an attorney who specializes in personal injury near you to find out more about the damages you could receive.
There are two primary types of damages that can be given in personal injury cases which are economic and non-economic damages. This article will go over these categories and explain how they could impact the amount of compensation you are entitled to recover.
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 kinds of damages can be extremely expensive, especially if they are serious injuries. Since they require intensive medical treatment. As they recover, victims may require mobility equipment or prescription medications.
These expenses can mount up quickly, and it is important to keep receipts of these expenses. These receipts will allow you to prove the true cost of your losses as well as increase the value of your compensation.
In personal injury cases, loss of wages and future income are common types of economic damages. This is because the victim could be out-of-work for weeks, months, and even years following an accident. In this case the award of compensation should reflect the amount the victim could have earned if they were not in a position to work.
If a person is disabled or the death of a family member occurs due to an accident, the victim may be entitled to damages for life care services. These include home health, nursing and physical therapy.
Many people need assistance with the same tasks they had prior to their accident. personal injury attorney newton includes household chores, driving a car as well as caring for the environment as well as taking care of the dependent family member.
In these situations an attorney may be able to provide receipts, bills and other evidence of the cost of these items. They may also hire experts to testify on the worth of these damages.
The amount of these damages may vary greatly based on the circumstances of the accident and the specific needs of the victim. Typically, a jury will examine a range of factors when determining an economic damages award.
Some examples of these damages could include:
Pain and suffering
This award is usually given 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 few dollars for pain and suffering) to huge sums of money (millions of dollars in a wrongful-death case).
Emotional distress
This type of damages compensates victims for emotional trauma caused by an injury. This can include anxiety, depression, and loss in enjoyment.
Disfigurement
A person who is injured and is permanently damaged due to an accident may receive this. This can be costly as many people require surgery and other procedures to correct or eliminate disfigurements.
The loss of companionship and the consortium
The purpose of this award is to pay for the loss of someone you love as a result. This is especially important when the victim has children or other dependents.
Non-economic damages are a distinct element of the legal system, distinct from economic damages and is significantly less common. While they can have a higher burden of proof in the case of non-economic damages, they are more difficult to quantify and are not subject to the same restrictions as economic damages.