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. Find out about the kinds of damages you can get by speaking with a personal injury attorney near you.
There are two major types of damages that may be awarded in personal injury lawsuits that are non-economic and economic damages. This article will explore these categories and discuss how they can impact the amount of compensation you are legally entitled to.
Economic Damages
A person may be entitled to financial compensation when they are injured in an accident. personal injury attorneys fort myers can include medical expenses, lost earnings and property damage.
Often, these kinds of damage can be very costly, particularly in the case of serious injuries. They will require intensive medical treatment. In addition to being hospitalized, victims may have to pay for prescription medication and mobility equipment as they recover.
These expenses can add up quickly, which is why it is important to keep receipts of these expenses. These receipts can help you demonstrate the true value of your losses and increase your compensation.
In personal injury cases, the loss of earnings and future income are common types of economic losses. The reason for this is that victims can be out-of-work for months, weeks, and even years after an accident. In this case, the compensation award must reflect the amount the victim could have earned if they had not been disabled from working.
If a person is disabled or someone in the family dies due to an accident, the victim could be eligible to receive damages for the services they received in life. These could include home health care, nursing, and physical therapy services, among others.
Many people also require assistance in the activities they used to do before their accident. These could include household chores, driving a vehicle and taking care of the outdoors, and assisting someone in the family who is dependent.
An attorney may be able provide receipts bills, receipts, or other evidence to prove the value of these items in these cases. They can also engage experts to testify about the value of these damages.
The amount of damages awarded can be determined differently based on the specific requirements of the victim as well as the circumstances that led to the incident. In general, juries take into consideration a variety of factors when determining an economic damages award.
These damages can include:
Pain and suffering
This award is usually given to victims of serious accidents who have suffered physical or emotional injuries as a result of the accident. These awards may be small (a few dollars for suffering) or substantial (millions in a case of wrongful death).
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 is permanently damaged due to an accident may be eligible for this. It is a costly procedure, as many people need surgery and other treatments to fix or remove disfigurements.
Loss of consortium and companionship
The damages award is intended to compensate the loss of someone you love as a result of the accident. This is especially important if the victim has children or other dependents.
The award of non-economic damages is an independent part of the legal system, distinct from economic damages, and it is more difficult to obtain. Non-economic damages are subject to a greater burden of evidence, but they are typically more difficult to quantify than economic damages and aren't restricted by the same rules.