After you’ve been hurt by another’s actions, you may wonder what your options are—for many, a personal injury case is the most viable option. Personal injury cases allow you to ask for several types of damages, depending on the type of injuries you’ve suffered and their severity. Many people underestimate the costs associated with a serious injury; a personal injury attorney can help you evaluate your damages and hold the other party accountable. Your lawyer may advise asking for some or all of the following damages.
1. Medical Bills and Future Medical Care
Many personal injuries result in substantial medical treatment and expenses. In your filing, you may ask the responsible party to pay for all medical bills resulting from the accident. If your injury is likely to require ongoing care or has left you permanently disabled, it is also wise to estimate future medical expenses and ask the other party to pay for those as well.
2. Lost Income and Future Lost Income
Short-term, you’re likely to lose some income while attending medical appointments and recovering from your accident. Many personal injury cases ask the defendant to cover lost income resulting from the incident. Some injuries permanently limit an individual’s ability to work or bring in the same level of income they earned prior to the accident; in these situations, your attorney may recommend asking for a larger award to compensate for your lifetime loss of income.
3. Household Expenses
If your accident restricts your ability to move or carry out household duties—such as laundry, cooking, cleaning, or caring for children—the defendant may be asked to pay the costs associated with hiring household help.
4. Changes in Plans
If an accident requires you to cancel vacations or other obligations that have been paid for in full, the other party might be responsible for these expenses.
5. Pain and Suffering
Beyond the obvious damages associated with an accident or other type of personal injury, victims can also ask for compensation for their pain and suffering. Pain and suffering can substantially lower your quality of life and limit your range of activities. Your attorney may assess your pain and suffering a number of ways. They may look at your pain medications and how often you have to take them, information from your physicians, and feedback from mental health professionals.
6. Punitive Damages
Courts rarely award punitive damages in personal injury cases, since most personal injury cases are the result of an accident or mistake, rather than malice or gross negligence. Punitive damages are awarded to discourage similar behavior in the future, so it’s primarily used when the other party is grossly negligent or malicious in their actions. A thorough investigation as to what caused the injury and whether the defendant had reason to know of a dangerous condition may support punitive damages. An experienced trial attorney may be able to uncover the evidence to support such a claim, and, if there’s a death involved, it may warrant such investigation.
You shouldn’t be left handling the stress of medical bills, lost income, and other financial worries after an accident. With strong legal representation, you can seek compensation and get the help you need. Get started now and contact Feldman Legal Group at 813-639-8948. They will fight for you.