At Reeder & Nussbaum, some of the most common questions we receive are related to the types of damages one can request compensation for following an accident. While many assume that they can seek financial compensation for damage to vehicles or individuals, not having a full understanding of the available damage categories can keep you from receiving the full financial settlement you deserve!
So what kinds of compensatory damages and expenses can be claimed after you are involved in an accident that results in personal injury? While every accident is unique and requires the help of a trained personal injury attorney, there are some basic categories that allow you to seek compensation. Here are some examples of the economic and non-economic damage categories you can find included in many personal injury settlements:
Economic Damages of Accidents
As you can imagine, an accident will likely involve numerous economic damages that you can quickly categorize in a personal injury suit:
Medical Expenses
Any expenses that you accrue as a result of your injury can be categorized as economic damage. This includes any treatment that you receive from emergency personnel at the scene of the accident or at a hospital. You can also request compensation for costs that arise from any prescriptions, testing, surgery, or rehabilitation services that are necessary. In some cases, you can also claim economic damages such as prosthetics and wheelchairs/crutches.
Lost Wages
If you are involved in a personal injury accident, you will likely have to miss work for a number of days. If you find that you lose wages due to being unable to work, then you have the right to claim lost wages as part of economic damages.
Loss Of Future Earning Potential
Similar to lost wages, an accident may leave you in a physical state that prevents you from working and receiving wages in the future. If your injury places you on permanent disability, or the injury prevents you from seeking future work, then you can also claim an economic damage related to the loss of future wages.
Property Costs
You can also claim the expenses of having to fix or replace your personal property that is involved in the accident. However, one area that many don’t take advantage of is the cost of retrofitting your home to help you cope with physical injury, as well as the costs of traveling to and from medical appointments.
Non-Economic Damages of Motorcycle Accidents
One area that many individuals miss in their personal injury suits is non-economic damages. Non-economic damages include any damages that lead to negative outcomes on the victim’s life and well being. In many cases, non-economic damages can be far worse and long-lasting than economic damages.
Many non-economic damages that you can claim in your personal injury suit include:
- Any acute or chronic physical pain that you encounter from the accident.
- Acute emotional distress that you experience as a result of the accident.
- Quality of life impacts, such as physical or emotional pain that prevents you from taking part in activities and hobbies that you once loved.
- Loss of Consortium – the loss of intimacy and relational connection that a spouse experiences as a result of the personal injury.
Knowing the differences between economic and non-economic damages in your personal injury suit can make all the difference in seeing financial compensation for what you have been through as a result of a personal injury accident. The key to finding the best compensation settlement is finding a trained and experienced personal injury attorney who can help you navigate the complicated world of injury lawsuits.
At Reeder & Nussbaum, our firm understands how hard it can be to ensure that you receive the settlement you need to continue living your life. To ensure that you receive the financial settlement that you deserve for your accident, you need a winning strategy from the start. Contact the team at Reeder & Nussbaum today. As St. Petersburg’s premier personal injury law firm, we will work with you to achieve the financial outcome that you deserve.