A car accident can be devastating. Even if you survive an accident and you’re able to recover, you may end up losing time from work, experiencing serious bodily harm that lasts for years, or having to replace your vehicle. When you’re handling the fallout of a car accident, you may need to consider whether or not you’ll be able to recover damages after your accident.
Here are the 3 types of damages you may be able to recover.
Economic Damages
The first type of damages are economic damages. These have a very specific monetary value because other people have already assigned their value. In general, economic damages cover things like hospital bills, damaged property, and lost wages, all of which have a very distinct price that the other party may need to reimburse you for.
For example, if you receive a hospital bill for $10,000 because of a hospital stay associated with the car accident, that hospital bill may become part of the economic damages. The judge may order that the other individual pay the $10,000 or at least part of it because they were the reason you had to pay the bill in the first place.
Punitive Damages
The second – and most difficult – type of damages are punitive damages. These don’t apply in every case; punitive damages typically only apply if you can prove that the other party caused the injury because of malicious intent or serious negligence. They’re specifically supposed to punish the other party.
This can create a problem. According to the accident lawyers at Wagoner Desai, punitive damages can be difficult to control because they’re so complicated. Plus, certain states, including West Virginia, put an upper limit on the punitive damages that a party may pay out. If you believe your case meets punitive damage criteria, talking to a lawyer may be your first step
Non-Economic Damages
The third type of damages are non-economic damages. These are damages that don’t have to do with anything that another person put a price on. Typically, those damages have to do with the pain that you or your family members went through as part of the car accident.
Non-economic damages are where you may see larger payouts, especially if you ended up with a permanent and very disabling condition due to the pain you went through. The Bureau of Justice Statistics has estimated that about 5% of civil cases result in damages exceeding $1 million, which is a small percentage but still one you may want to push for if you deserve it.
Conclusion
The type of damages you’re able to recover may depend on what happened in the car accident, whether you were at fault for at least part of the accident, and what type of help you have during the process. Especially if you’re dealing with a complicated car accident claim, it’s always a good idea to invest in a lawyer. That way, you’ll have personalized answers to the questions you’re asking about your unique claim.
