Accidents are unexpected and can lead to serious consequences. An accident victim can have their life altered due to the effect of an incident. Victims may have to endure physical pain, trauma, and economic problems.
People tend to hire personal injury lawyers to help them file a lawsuit against the party responsible for their injuries. “A personal injury lawyer will assist a plaintiff in understanding the legal processes and also try to ensure they get maximum compensation for their losses,” says Attorney Robert Hammers of Hammers Law Firm.
Personal injury cases may stem from different kinds of accidents. Some of the common accidents include:
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Accidents caused by poor conditions of a property
- Motor vehicle accidents
- A pedestrian trip and fall
- Dangerous roadway defects
- Assaults as a result of incompetent security
- Animal attacks like bites and deep cuts
- Nursing home abuse or neglect
- Medical malpractice
What is Compensation in Personal Injury Law?
When an aggrieved person files a personal injury claim, they expect to receive financial reimbursement from the person responsible for the injury. The plaintiff filing the claim does not pay any financial cost even if the claim is unsuccessful. Compensation usually comes from the insurance company of the responsible party.
When considering a personal injury lawsuit, you should know the types of compensation you may be able to receive if you are successful. Below are two basic types.
Reimbursement For Your Costs
If you suffered a serious injury from a crash, there is no doubt that you were faced with unexpected losses. If you win your lawsuit, the defendant in the suit must reimburse you for the money you spent.
A common example is recovering the costs of your medical expenses. Medical expenses may include medical bills, medical treatment, cost of hospital stay, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and medical transportation. Another example is recovering economic damages such as the costs of repairing damages to your car or other property.
Sometimes an accident may render a victim disabled and unable to support their family like they used to. In some cases like this, a victim can be entitled to receive compensation for the loss of earning capacity or lost wages.
Compensation for Non-economic Injuries
Asides from seeking compensation for physical pain from an accident, you can do the same for the emotional and psychological trauma that follows. Unlike physical injuries, some damages are intangible and cannot be measured in money. These damages include physical pain, mental and emotional distress, loss of companionship, lower quality of life, and impairment.
An accident can cost you your normal life and some of the privileges you enjoyed before. In some cases, victims can recover from these losses. This could include engaging in physical activities you enjoy, like sports, or just spending time with your family.
However, you should know that the law may disqualify you from recovering non-economic damages in other circumstances. You should find out if your situation is eligible.
Conclusion
This article has attempted to explain the kinds of compensation an injured accident victim may receive in a personal injury lawsuit. It is important to understand that a personal injury lawsuit intends not to punish the offender or the responsible party. The lawsuit is aimed at helping the accident victim recover from the effects of the accident and get the compensation that they are due based on the injury suffered.