Types of Personal Injury Compensation
If you've been injured as a result of another party's negligence or wrongdoing, you may be entitled to compensation. Talk to personal injury attorneys springfield near you to learn more about the potential damages you could be awarded.
There are two major types of damages that can be granted in personal injury cases which are economic and non-economic damages. This article will go over these two categories and discuss how they impact the amount you're entitled to for compensation.
Economic Damages
When a person is injured in an accident, they could be entitled for financial damages. These could include medical costs as well as lost wages and property damage.
Most of the time, these types of damage can be very costly especially in the case of serious injuries. Since they require intensive medical treatment. As they heal, victims may require mobility equipment or prescription medications.
These expenses can mount up quickly, which is why it is critical to keep receipts for these expenses. These receipts will allow you to prove the true value of your losses and increase your compensation.
Other types of economic damages in personal injury cases involve loss of earnings and future earnings. This is due to the fact that a victim could be out of work for weeks, months or even years following an accident. In this scenario, the compensation award should reflect the amount the victim would have earned if they were not incapable of working.
If a person is disabled or an individual in the family dies due to an accident, the victim may be entitled to compensation for the services they received in life. These include home health, nursing and physical therapy.
Many people also need assistance in the activities they did prior to their accident. These include household chores, driving a car, taking care of the outdoors, and taking care of an individual 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 may also employ experts to testify on the worth of these damages.
The value of these damages may vary greatly based on the circumstances surrounding the accident and the specific needs of the victim. Typically, a jury will consider a wide range of factors when determining an economic damages award.
Examples of these damages could include:
Pain and suffering
This is usually given to those who are victims of serious accidents who suffer emotional or physical injuries as a result of the accident. These awards can be very minor (a few dollars for suffering) or even substantial (millions in the event of wrongful death).
Emotional distress
This kind of compensation compensates victims for emotional stress caused by an injury. It can include things like anxiety, depression and a loss of enjoyment in everyday life.
Disfigurement
A person who is injured and has suffered permanent damage as a result of an accident can receive this. This can be costly because many people require surgery and other treatments to repair or remove disfigurements.
Loss of the consortium and companionship
This damages award is designed to cover the loss of the loved one because of the accident. This is particularly relevant if the victim has children or other dependents.
Non-economic damages are a distinct part of the legal system apart in comparison to economic damages and are significantly less common. Non-economic damages are subject to a higher burden of proof, however they are often more difficult to quantify than economic damages, and are not subject to the same limitations as economic damages.