Having The Right Lawyer Changes Everything

  1. Home
  2.  | 
  3. Personal Injury
  4.  | What Damages Can Be Recovered In A Personal Injury Claim?

What Damages Can Be Recovered In A Personal Injury Claim?

On Behalf of | Aug 22, 2022 | Personal Injury

Compensation for injuries sustained from another party’s negligence is not limited to the hospital bills you incurred. Your injuries may have far-reaching consequences on your overall quality of life. It’s only fair that you are compensated for that as well.

Recoverable damages in any personal injury claim, such as a car accident, medical malpractice, premise liability or wrongful death, can be economic or non-economic. Here is what this means:

Compensatory damages explained

Economic damages cover the financial losses you suffered from your injuries. They include the present and future medical expenses necessary to treat your injuries, including the cost of after-care services or rehabilitation services.

Equally, if you cannot work for a prolonged period due to your injuries, you are entitled to the wages you miss as a result. Your future earning potential also counts when the injuries are severe or permanent.

Other damages are non-economic, such as the pain and suffering you endure. Serious injuries can affect your social life and even strain family relationships since you may no longer be able to do some things together. Other similar damages are loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, emotional distress and mental anguish, among others.

In situations where the negligent party’s behavior was particularly harmful, you may be awarded punitive damages. However, this does not arise in all claims.

Damages are crucial to your claim

It can be difficult to understand how everything works and what you may be entitled to in damages before rushing to accept an offer to settle. That’s why experienced legal guidance is best from the start.