Types of Compensation You Can Claim Under a Car Accident Lawsuit

A car accident lawsuit is a civil legal action to help the victims of a car accident get compensation for the injuries they incur. This compensation is usually in monetary form. It includes medical expenses, lost wages, emotional suffering, and other losses.

If you are injured after a car crash, there are different kinds of compensation that you may be entitled to. The amount will vary depending on your case, the severity of the injuries, and the long-term impacts it will have on the rest of your life.

In this article, we will break down these entitlements into clear categories.

What Compensation Can I Claim in a Car Accident Lawsuit?

In car accidents, compensation is categorized into economic, non-economic, and, in some cases, punitive damages. Traffic accidents happen frequently across the country, with millions occurring each year. This emphasizes the importance of understanding your rights if you are involved in an accident.

Economic Damages

These losses have a clear monetary value and can be easily supported with documentation such as bills, receipts, and other records.

Medical Expenses

Medical expenses include visits to the hospital, surgeries, medication, therapy, and rehabilitation. When the accident results in serious injury, the expenses are extremely high.

Lost Wages

If you are unable to work due to an accident, you can file a claim for lost wages. This includes compensation for both the short-term and long-term income you may lose as a result of your inability to return to work.

Property Damage

Property damage refers to compensation for repairing or replacing your car. It also includes coverage for damage to personal belongings, such as your phone or laptop, during the accident.

Future Medical Costs

Some injuries require extended treatment. If your injury requires ongoing care, such as physical therapy or surgeries, you can include those costs in your claim.

Non-Economic Damages

Research shows that individuals who sustain serious injuries often encounter non-economic damages as a typical consequence of their experiences. Unlike economic damages, these damages do not have a clear monetary value. They focus on the intangible loss and effects, such as pain and emotional distress, as a result of the accident.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering, as the term suggests, refer to the physical pain you experience following an accident. This also includes the ongoing discomfort you may endure as a result of your injuries over time.

Emotional Distress

Emotional distress involves conditions such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of the crash. Such effects may be as devastating as physical injuries.

Loss of the enjoyment of life

When you can no longer enjoy activities like hobbies or sports due to your injuries, you have the right to claim compensation.

Loss of Consortium

This refers to the impact of the accident on your relationships. It covers loss of affection, companionship, or care between family members or spouses.

Punitive Damage

Punitive damages are not so common. Only a few cases get punitive damages. It is only applicable as a form of punishment for extreme negligence cases. For instance, when an accident happens because the driver was intoxicated, drag racing, or driving in a reckless manner, the court can award punitive damages. This serves to warn the driver and others from exhibiting such behavior in the future.

Conclusion:

Car accident lawsuits are not all about the money. They are about getting help to reshape one’s life. Courts and insurance companies take into consideration how an accident can harm you, including medical bills, loss of simple daily pleasures, and more.

Key Takeaways:

1. Economic losses: medical bills/medical expenses, lost income, and property damage, as well as future medical expenses.
2. Non-economic losses: pain and suffering, emotional trauma, loss of pleasure in life, loss of consortium.
3. Punitive damages: a form of punishment for extreme negligence cases.
4. Understanding these losses will help you know your rights and legal options when seeking compensation for car accident injuries.