Celina Nichols
If you have been involved in a car accident where another driver was responsible for your injuries and losses, it helps to know the different categories of compensation you can be awarded before proceeding to file an injury suit. You can talk to an accident lawyer about the types of damages that you could recover based on the severity of your loss.
Typically, you can recover both economic and non-economic damages after a car accident. Read on for a better understanding of these two categories of damages so you can be better placed to prepare a successful injury claim.
Economic damages
These include compensation for any monetary losses you suffered as a result of the car accident. Typically, you can get compensated for the cost of repairing your vehicle and replacing any valuables that were lost or damaged in the accident.
You can also make a claim for medical expenses incurred, including medical bills during appointments with your doctor, the cost of MRIs, chiropractic care, physical therapy or medical tests and the cost of any anticipated medical treatment in the future. Finally, you can get compensated for any loss of income due to missed working days while you were injured or for any income you stand to miss out on due to a permanent disability resulting from the accident.
Economic damages usually need to be substantiated with specific proof, so be sure to provide documents such as medical bills, receipts, and income statements.
Non-economic damages
These are damages for losses that aren't easily quantifiable in monetary terms. Such damages include compensation for pain and suffering, where the courts try to compensate you for all the discomfort you have endured as a result of the crash. Typically, pain and suffering damages look at the extent of your physical injuries as well as the psychological effects caused by the accident such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
You may also be able to recover compensation for loss of enjoyment, where you can be awarded money if the injuries resulting from the car accident robbed you the ability to participate in hobbies such as swimming, racing and other similar pleasures of life.
Proving non-economic damages isn't usually as easy as calculating economic damages, as there is no easy way to quantify the amount of pain or suffering you may have endured. It therefore helps to hire an experienced lawyer who can demonstrate the amount of suffering you have endured based on the extent of your medical treatment and duration of recovery so you can better your chances of recovering sufficient compensation.
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About a year ago, I was left dealing with injuries sustained during a serious car accident. I was worried that I would never be the same, so I decided to start looking into ways to make things right. After thinking about the wreck, I realized that since it wasn't my fault, I shouldn't be left with all of the medical expenses. I decided that I needed to look into things a little further, and I decided to file a personal injury lawsuit. My lawyer helped me to come to grips with the extent of my injuries and helped me to make things right. This blog is all about understanding personal injury lawsuits.