Types of Personal Injury Compensation
If you've suffered an injury as a result of the negligence or misconduct of another party or wrongdoing, you may be entitled to compensation. Consult an attorney for personal injuries near you to learn more about the potential damages you could be awarded.
In personal injury cases, there are two types of damages that could occur that are non-economic and economic. This article will look at these categories and explain how they could impact the amount of compensation you're entitled to.
Economic Damages
When a person is injured in an accident, they may be entitled to compensation for their losses. These may include medical bills along with lost wages and property damage.
Often, these kinds of damage can be very costly especially in the event of serious injuries. personal injury attorney rockford is because they will require intensive treatment. In addition to being hospitalized, victims may need to pay for prescription medications and mobility equipment as they recover.
The cost of these expenses can be astronomical quickly, which is why it's important to keep receipts of them. These receipts will help determine the true worth of your losses and increase your compensation.
In personal injury cases, lost earnings and future income are common types of economic damages. This is because a victim may be without work for a period of months, weeks, or years after an accident. In these instances the victim is entitled to the amount they would have received if they were able to work.
If a person is disabled or a family member passes away in the aftermath of an accident, the victim could be able to claim damages for services provided to the living. These services include nursing, home health, and physical therapy.
Many people require help with the same tasks that they completed prior to their accident. This includes house chores, driving a car and caring for the outdoor and taking care of the dependent family member.
In these cases an attorney may be capable of providing receipts, bills and other evidence of the value of these items. They may also employ experts to testify on the worth of these damages.
These damages are valued differently based on the specific requirements of the victim as well as the circumstances surrounding the incident. A jury is typically considering several factors when determining the amount of damages.
Examples of these damages could include:
The two most painful things in life are suffering and pain
This is usually awarded to victims of severe accidents who have suffered physical or emotional injuries due to the accident. These awards could be small (a few dollars for suffering) or substantial (millions in the event of wrongful death).
Emotional distress
This type of damages is targeted at redressing the emotional stress that an injury can cause the victim. This includes anxiety, depression and loss of enjoyment.
Disfigurement
This can be given to someone who is injured and has suffered permanent disfigurement by the accident. This can be costly since many require surgery and other treatments to correct or remove imperfections.
Loss of the consortium and companionship
This damages award is intended to compensate for the loss of the loved one as a result. This is especially crucial for victims who have dependents or children.
Non-economic damages form a distinct part the legal system as is economic damage, and are far less frequent. While they are subject to an additional burden of proof however, non-economic damages are typically more difficult to value and are not subject to the same restrictions as economic damages.