A car accident, a workplace accident, or some other kind of accident can hurt more than just your body. It can also take a serious toll on your finances. What about Pedestrian accidents, that often result in severe injuries. Discover the steps to take following an accident and how to seek compensation from our experienced lawyer.
An effective way to prevent your bank account from taking a hit following an accident is by filing a personal injury lawsuit. A dependable personal injury lawyer in Charlotte, NC, can help you file a lawsuit and work on trying to secure the compensation you need to cover accident-related costs.
There are two main types of damages in personal injury cases, including economic and non-economic damages. Discover more about them below.
1. Economic Damages
Economic damages are any financial losses you’ve experienced following a personal injury that you can put a specific price tag on. You can show the defendant in your personal injury case as well as a judge and possibly even a jury how much an accident cost you. Of the two types of damages in personal injury cases, this is the easily quantifiable one.
Check out several examples of economic damages.
Medical Expenses
After you’re involved in an accident, it’s always a good idea to head to a local hospital for an evaluation. The medical staff can treat any obvious injuries and run tests to see if you experienced any not-so-obvious injuries.
No matter which injuries you suffered, you’ll likely face a mountain of medical expenses in the aftermath of your accident. You can aim to collect enough compensation during a personal injury lawsuit to cover these costs.
Property Damage Costs
Outside of sustaining injuries during an accident, there’s a chance you might suffer property damage, too. For instance, your brand-new car might be totaled following a crash.
As part of your personal injury lawsuit, you can seek compensation for any property damage costs you’re facing. It’ll enable you to pay for car repairs and similar expenses without footing these bills.
Lost Wages
A minor accident might not keep you out of work for long. However, a serious accident that does damage to your head, neck, back, or limbs could be a different story. You might find yourself out of work for weeks, months, and sometimes even years at a time.
Filing a personal injury lawsuit can put you in a position to collect damages to compensate for lost wages. It’ll allow you to continue to lead a normal life without having to figure out ways to account for your sudden loss of income.
2. Non-Economic Damages
Of the two types of damages in personal injury cases, non-economic damages are often the ones that are more difficult to collect. This is largely because it isn’t easy to quantify these damages with a dollar amount.
Take a look at a few examples of non-economic damages.
Pain and Suffering
Studies suggest just over 20% of American adults suffer from chronic pain. At least some people who deal with chronic pain daily suffer from it due to past accidents.
It’s difficult to put a price tag on pain and suffering, but many insurance companies have come up with complex formulas for calculating pain and suffering damages. You can potentially collect compensation to account for the pain and suffering you’ll have to live with from now on.
Mental Anguish
When you think about post-traumatic stress disorder, you might associate the condition solely with those who fight in wars and take part in other extremely traumatic events. But it’s worth noting that about 40% of car accident survivors suffer from PTSD.
Just like with pain and suffering, you might have the opportunity to collect compensation connected to your mental anguish in the aftermath of an accident. Although it’s tough to prove mental anguish in certain cases, an experienced personal injury lawyer can help you seek these damages based on the circumstances surrounding your accident.
Lost Quality of Life
Has an accident put a big damper on your quality of life? It’s yet another example of one of the many non-economic types of damages in personal injury cases.
You can’t necessarily put a price on how much money it’ll take to turn your quality of life issues around. But a personal injury attorney in Charlotte, NC, can work on finding a number you’ll feel comfortable with in the end.
Call Us To Learn More About the Types of Damages in Personal Injury Cases
Interested in securing more information on the different types of damages in personal injury cases? Yale Haymond Law PLLC can talk to you about filing a lawsuit to collect damages for emotional distress and more. Contact us at 704-800-HELP (4357) to speak with a trusted lawyer.
