A report from Clio stated that nearly 400,000 personal injury claims are filed each year in the United States. This statistic reflects the high volume of cases ranging from car accidents to medical malpractice.
Suffering from personal injuries is never easy. Part of the factors in such cases refer to the physical, emotional, or psychological harm done to a person as a result of another party’s negligence, carelessness, or intentional wrongdoing.
If you are a victim of personal injury, you can seek compensation for the damages you incurred. But first, you must build a strong personal injury case, according to https://gonzaleslawoffices.com/. And working with an experienced personal injury lawyer can be a big help.
Here are the damages covered by personal injury claims to accurately estimate the injury’s full impact.
Medical Expenses
Medical expenses are the main costs that people consider when it comes to personal injury claims, and they often are the first ones that come to the mind of the injured party. These expenses can easily reach an amount that is difficult for you to manage. Hospital visits to rehabilitation—every bill can take its toll on you mentally.
You don’t have to go through this process by yourself; knowing what’s included is very important. There can be expenses such as surgeries, medications, and check-ups, among others, that are covered by your claim. It is very important to maintain accurate records of all the medical treatments since they will be the evidence for your case.
According to personal injury lawyer Matthew Weisman, if you hire a personal injury lawyer with the experience needed to resolve your case, you are likely to secure compensation for the economic and non-economic damages the defendant caused.
Being in touch with a competent lawyer can greatly boost your confidence in the whole process, making sure that you are not treated like just one more statistic but rather a person worthy of attention and assistance.
Lost Wages
One important factor in your personal injury case might be the lost wages. An injury not only affects your physical condition but also your financial situation. In case of being off work due to injuries, the income loss through your absence deserves compensation.
Not only your basic pay but also all the bonuses and perks withheld during your absence make up your claim. To prove your case more robustly, maintain very precise and thorough records of your working hours, copies of your paychecks, and any communication with your boss regarding your leave.
You should definitely express how this loss has been affecting your life. Besides, money should not be a concern when your main distractions are treatment and going back to your usual activities.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering is usually the leading factor in personal injury lawsuits. This includes the physical and mental agony you are enduring after the accident.
It refers not only to your physical injuries that can be seen. Part of these injuries is the emotional pain that results in lack of sleep or depression. Sometimes, there is also the pain of being cut off from your friends and family.
Maybe there are activities that you no longer enjoy or cannot take part in because of your injuries. This could also result in having anxiety and worry about your recovery. In such cases, the first thing that one should do is to acknowledge the fact that one’s experiences are important.
During the claim process, such documentation of the difficulties you face can actually help to show very clearly the real extent of the impact on your life.
Total compensation is the only just outcome for all the negative effects that your injuries have imposed on your general health.
Emotional Distress
Emotional distress refers to the lingering effect of the injury even after it has healed completely.
Going through such an ordeal is never simple. You may find yourself all recovered physically, but the distance and sense of isolation from the time of your recovery remain. Anxiety and depression are quite hard to deal with.
Acknowledging these emotions is important, as the trauma truly impacted your life. The emotional distress you suffered is valid and is subject to compensation. You can receive support that is in line with the hardship you endured.
Your whole well-being is important. This does not only include your physical health but also your emotional stability.
Punitive Damages
Most personal injury lawsuits demand compensatory damages for the typical losses incurred like medical bills and lost wages, but punitive damages are not at all in the same boat. These are the ones that punish the perpetrator and discourage the same mistake from happening again.
In case you have had to deal with very harsh actions—like wilful negligence or the intent to harm—then your case could probably receive the punitive damages. Such damages do not at all aim to compensate you; instead, it’s all about making the offender answer for his/her actions.
Besides, getting punitive damages is like giving a strong signal to the community that irresponsible acts do have meanings. It’s very important to talk about this opportunity with your attorney since the latter can help you go through the legal system and make sure your voice is the one heard. Because eventually, you are entitled to justice—not just for you, but also for others.
DISCLAIMER: The Site cannot and does not contain medical / health advice. The medical / health information is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Accordingly, before seeking any form of medical advice, diagnoses or treatment based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with your GP or other qualified health practitioner. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something mentioned on this Site. The use or reliance of any information contained on the Site is solely at your own risk.
