If another person’s negligence caused your injuries, you have the right to seek personal injury compensation. This article discusses the damages in personal injury lawsuits and their significance.
Compensatory Damages
Damages are awarded to compensate a victim for the harm or injury caused by the defendant. It applies to all injury cases, including auto accidents, medical negligence, slip-and-falls, and road accidents.
Although compensatory damages cover a wide range of costs, they are general or particular.
General Damages
It compensates an injured victim for non-monetary damages. This term refers to a general injury, which includes;
- Emotional Anguish
- Suffering
- Loss of quality of life
- Humiliation
- Loss of reputation
- Psychological trauma
- Permanent Disability (loss of hearing, vision, or bodily function)
- Scarring or physical deformity
Wrongful Death Damages Claims
Wrongful death damages claim is under general damages, in which an action for wrongful death offers compensation to the surviving families and loved ones. The most typical wrongful death damages are as follows:
- Burial and funeral costs
- The cost of medical care before death
- The psychological suffering of the surviving loved ones and their families
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of inheritance
- Loss of assistance and services, and
- Loss of friendship and partnership
Special Damages
Special damages, also understood as economic damages are sought for specific losses and expenses. It contains the following:
- Prescription drug costs, ambulance services, and rehabilitation.
- Estimated future medical costs
- Lost wages due to incapacity to work and anticipated future lost income.
- Repair or replacement costs for damaged property.
- Inability to work (physical damages or injuries)
- Transportation, fuel, and other expenses.
- Fees for car rentals are covered if you have a wrecked car caused by a collision or road accident.
Punitive Damages
These damages are served or filed against defendants who cause you harm by being violent, malevolent, fraudulent, or reckless. It is a more extreme type of damage than compensatory damage. It has several components:
- Sexual assault
- Fraudulent conduct
- Causes financial damage
- Defective products
- Battery aggravated
- Health risks include prescription drugs, professional malpractice, and so on.
How to demonstrate negligence to be eligible for compensation for personal injury?
To achieve this goal, you should hire an experienced personal injury attorney to assist you in presenting evidence that the defendant acted negligently and was at fault for the accident. It could include the following:
Duty of care: The defendant has a duty of care to avoid causing you harm. For example, all drivers should follow traffic laws and take precautions to prevent accidents or damage on the road.
Causation: There is negligence at the time of the accident when the defendant is a driver distracted by his smartphone while driving, causing a collision or accidentally hitting a man on the road.
Breach of Duty: This refers to various incidents that occurred while on the job or duty. For example, if a security guard is on duty and his employer discovers that he left his post during working hours, this constitutes negligence.
Damages are the expenses or causes of the damages caused by your injury. For example, if you cannot work due to a broken arm or an injury that provokes it should cause physical harm, your medical bills, wage, and other costs.
Expert personal injury lawyers may be able to help you recover damages.
If you are struggling due to an injury caused by the negligence of another defendant, you may be able to sue the parties. Find personal injury attorneys who work with injured clients. While you focus on your recovery, they may be able to seek compensation on your behalf.