If you’re a victim of a personal injury accident, you could receive money for the incident. But determining the amount of money you can receive isn’t easy. It’s on a case-by-case basis. Fortunately, you can get a better idea of your compensation amount by learning about the damages awarded in a personal injury claim.

The Damages

The money you receive for your accident is known as the damages. There are several types of damages you could receive after a successful lawsuit:

Economic Damages

These damages are easy to determine because they have a firm financial value. Economic damages refer to any monetary losses you experience as a result of the accident.

To receive economic damages, you need to record your medical expenses and missed wages. You need documentation of all your medical bills, pay stubs, and receipts for medical-related expenses. By adding up all the receipts, you can get an idea of your economic damages.

It’s worth noting that your economic damages aren’t limited to your past bills and missed wages. Rather, you can receive money for your future losses. You might need a financial expert to testify on your behalf and explain your future expenses. If your injury will prevent you from working in your chosen career, you may be able to receive money for the lost future earnings.

Non-Economic Damages

Other damages are harder to measure. These are known as non-economic damages, and can refer to the following:

• Scars
• Disfigurement
• Pain
• Suffering
• Decreased quality of life

It’s difficult to put a value on your pain and suffering. However, it is possible. You are entitled to money for your struggles. For example, a large scar on your face could cause you to lose confidence and become more introverted. Your whole life could change. While seeking compensation for your disfigurement might not improve your scar, it could make you more comfortable.

You won’t have receipts to prove your economic damages. However, your attorney can use other methods to prove your damages. They could hire a medical expert to explain the level of pain and suffering. Furthermore, they can tell the court how your injuries will impact your future.

Limits to Your Compensation

There may be some limits to the amount of money you receive for your claim. In some states, there are laws that cap damages on personal injury claims.

In California, there are no caps on most personal injury claims. Medical malpractice claims could involve some caps, so you should consult with an attorney to learn more.

Car accidents involving uninsured drivers could also come with damage caps. One state law prevents the majority of uninsured drivers from receiving money for non-economic damages. Whether or not the other driver is at-fault, the uninsured driver will find it difficult to receive any money for pain and suffering.

The only exception to this limit is for uninsured drivers who are victims of impaired driving accidents. If the other driver is on drugs or has alcohol in their system at the time of the collision, the uninsured driver could seek con-economic damages.

In 2015, Orange County had 11,467 DUI arrests. Therefore, this situation could arise more frequently than you think.

Improving Your Chance at Compensation

If you want to improve your chance at receiving money for your accident, you should document your accident well. Keep track of all your accident-related expenses.

It’s also important to contact an attorney. Timothy J. Ryan & Associates – Orange County can work towards getting you the money you deserve.