“Personal injury” is a broad term for any manner of injury done to a person that causes bodily harm. It also includes actions resulting in a wrongful death.
Usually personal injury claims result from someone else’s negligence or wrongful acts. Because the nature of these claims means that a bodily injury occurred, there is often compensation sought by the victim to cover financial aspects such as medical expenses and lost wages. However, there are also non-economic damages that are often recovered in a personal injury case.
Economic Damages Often Awarded Due to a Personal Injury
Economic compensation depends on the individual case, and each state has caps on liability damage, but there are common factors that are often awarded in a personal injury lawsuit. These can include:
- Medical treatment costs. Medical care is assumed and expected if you are seeking compensation for an injury. In fact, these medical records are often the “make or break” of your case.
However, that care was not free, and neither will be the care you are likely to need in the future. You may be eligible for compensation for past and present medical treatment costs due to your injury.
- Loss of income. Your accident and subsequent injury likely had an impact on your salary. You may have missed work due to pain or doctor’s accidents. You may even be unable to be gainfully employed in the future because of your injury.
These losses of income will be taken into consideration into your compensation, including any of your future loss of earning capacity.
Non-Economic Damages Awarded in Many Personal Injury Cases
Loss sustained from an injury is not always financial, but a monetary compensation can help to offset some of that loss. Fair jurors and good attorneys take into account all of the rights of injury victims. Many times, the following damages are considered as awards in a personal injury case:
- Property loss. Depending on the type of accident you were in, you may have suffered property damage to a vehicle, clothing, or other item. Repair or replacement of these items can be included in your compensation at the property’s fair market value.
- Pain and suffering. You can’t put a price on the pain, suffering, and emotions that you felt during the accident and afterwards as you began to heal. However, damages are often awarded in a monetary fashion to attempt to offset these difficult aspects.
- Emotional suffering and distress. In traumatic accidents, there may be psychological effects to the victim. Emotional distress often appears in the form of sleep loss, anxiety, and depression. This compensation takes into account the psychological aspect of the injured party’s suffering.
- Loss of quality of life. You may have had hobbies that you enjoyed prior to your accident, but your injuries now keep you from participating in them. This is called “loss of enjoyment.” Your quality of life has changed and you can not enjoy the things that you once did. You may be able to obtain damages award for your inability to perform your daily activities that you once enjoyed.
- Loss of consortium. Your injury may have an impact on your relationships. “Loss of consortium” refers to the loss of companionship or other problems between you and your spouse or children. These damages are often awarded directly to the family member, however.
Your Injury Should Not Ruin Your Life
Money can’t return you back to your pre-accident status, but a successful personal injury lawsuit can attempt to ensure that your medical bills and loss of income do not ruin your life.
If you were injured due to someone else’s neglect, call an attorney today to see how they can help you get the benefits you are entitled to because of your suffering.