Possible Damages in a Personal Injury Lawsuit
Accidents can result in significant personal injury that is costly for the victim and can cause extreme financial hardship for her and her family. It seems unfair that a victim should have to suffer the physical and financial consequences of an accident in which he did not commit any fault. Consequently, the law allows personal injury victims to file lawsuits against the person (s) responsible for their injuries. All jurisdictions in the United States allow plaintiffs with valid cases to go to state court to recover damages. Although each jurisdiction may differ in the dollar amount that must be awarded in individual cases, there are some common types of damages that are allowed in most jurisdictions.
Personal injury damages are intended to restore a person to the financial position they were in before the accident occurred. Although a lawsuit cannot erase the physical pain and emotional suffering of an injured victim, or their survivors, a lawsuit can alleviate the financial suffering that the victim and their family may incur. Specifically damages can include:
Compensation for medical expenses : This may include past, present and future medical expenses and rehabilitation costs related to your injuries. You can present evidence of bills already received and estimates from doctors and therapists about your future medical needs;
Compensation for expenses actually incurred as a result of an accident : your injuries can leave you unable to care for younger children, their elderly relatives, can prevent him from carrying out the cleaning of your home, cook your food or make their walks. L to hiring people to take care of those responsibilities to his name p ou can be very expensive and you may be entitled to compensation for these expenses if successful in a personal injury lawsuit. Similarly, if the victim of the personal injury dies as a result of such injury sustained in an accident, then his family may be entitled to compensation for the funeral costs;
Compensation for loss of income : if your injuries leave him unable to work, to complete the number of working hours worked before the accident or unable to stay in the same job I had before the accident, then you may be entitled to recover the loss of income that you are now unable to earn due to your injuries. You may also be entitled to compensation for loss of income if you were an economic dependent of a member of your family (such as your spouse or parent), who died as a result of personal injuries in an accident;
Compensation for pain and suffering : Victims of personal injury, or their survivors, may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering that may result from their injuries or death. Your spouse can also recover damages for the loss of marital consortium as a result of your injuries.
Punitive damages : in extraordinary and extreme cases of negligence, some jurisdictions may allow the court to award punitive damages to the plaintiff they are not to compensate the plaintiff, but rather are designed to punish the defendant.
The law recognizes that there is no way to undo all of the damaging effects, but it may be important to a victim's emotional, physical, and financial recovery to provide some form of redress to help them recover from the consequences of their accident.
Talk to a Qualified Personal Injury Attorney Today
This article is intended to be helpful and informative, but legal matters can be complicated and stressful. A qualified personal injury attorney can address your particular legal needs, explain the law, and represent you in court. Take the first step now and contact a local personal injury attorney to discuss your unique legal situation.
