Recovering from a car accident can impose immense physical, emotional, and financial burdens that can be very distressing. You may be saddled with substantial medical bills, loss of income, property damage, and significant pain.
Though no amount of money can undo your pain and trauma, you have legal rights to secure compensation for all losses stemming from the accident. It’s important to carefully evaluate all of your losses accurately so you can avoid accepting an insufficient settlement offer.
Learn more about the types of damages in a personal injury case and how a car accident attorney can help you understand the full range of damages you may be entitled to claim under the law.
How Can I Determine the Amount of Damages Available in My Car Accident Claim?
Documenting injuries and expenses accurately is crucial to securing fair compensation in a car accident claim, but itemizing and proving all losses can be complex for someone without legal experience.
An experienced car accident attorney has the knowledge and resources to thoroughly investigate and calculate the full extent of both economic and non-economic damages in your unique case.
For example, the lawyer can scrutinize medical records, treatment costs, and doctor prognoses to thoroughly tally medical expenses and project future medical costs. We may consult vocational experts to analyze the long-term impact any permanent disabilities will have on your earning capacity, providing credible evidence to quantify lost past and future income.
Common Damages Claimed in a Car Accident Case
Here are the damages that your car accident lawyer can help you pursue after an auto accident:
Medical Expenses
One of the most significant financial impacts of a car accident is often medical costs. You can claim both current and future medical expenses that result from crash-related injuries. This might include:
- Emergency transportation and treatment
- Hospital stays
- Surgeries and procedures
- Doctor visits and specialist care
- Diagnostic tests like X-rays, CT scans, MRIs
- Physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, massage therapy
- Prescription medications
- Medical equipment and supplies
Future Medical Expenses
If your injuries are permanent and require ongoing care, you can seek compensation for reasonably anticipated future medical costs. Examples include future:
- Doctor and specialist visits
- Physical therapy and rehab
- Prescription medications
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Home healthcare services
- Psychological counseling
- Any future required surgeries or procedures
Lost Income
One of the biggest financial impacts of serious car accident injuries is often lost income, both currently and into the future. Car crashes frequently prevent victims from being able to work for a significant period during treatment and recovery – sometimes even permanently if disabilities remain.
Documented lost wages to date from missing work due to the accident-related injuries are one key element of lost income damages. An attorney can gather evidence like payroll records and employer letters to validate and quantify precisely how much income you have already lost. If the crash injuries leave you permanently disabled and unable to perform your prior job, there are also damages related to future loss of earning capacity.
The lawyer can retain vocational experts to analyze how disabilities will likely reduce your ability to work and earn promotions in your profession down the road. These experts can provide credible estimates of overall lost future income. You may also entitled to compensatory damages for:
- Lost fringe benefits
- Health insurance
- Retirement account contributions
- Bonuses
Property Damage
Another category is property damage – the attorney can secure repair estimates, valuation reports, and replacement costs to recoup losses if your vehicle or other personal property was damaged in the crash.
Pain and Suffering
This covers physical and emotional distress caused by the accident and injuries. In general, the more severe the injury, the more compensation you should receive. Factors considered include the pain involved in the injury itself, the pain of the treatment, and the length of time it will take to heal.
Mental Anguish
Emotional trauma like fear, anxiety, sleeplessness, PTSD, and depression can occur after auto accidents. This is especially true if injuries were severe or a death occurred. Your attorney can help you evaluate the emotional trauma damages that might apply in your case.
Other Non-Economic Damages
The pain and suffering caused by serious car accident injuries extends far beyond just physical pain. Damages for loss of enjoyment of life compensate for the inability to participate in sports, hobbies, and other activities that previously brought pleasure and enrichment.
Disfigurement from scarring, loss of limb, deformity or other permanent effects also fall under the umbrella of pain and suffering. An attorney can retain medical experts to evaluate the extent of disfigurement and argue for maximum permissible damages for these permanent impacts.
If gross negligence caused the accident, punitive damages meant to punish the at-fault driver may be awarded.
A Car Accident Attorney Works to Ensure the Maximum Financial Recovery Possible
Documenting the full extent of damages is crucial yet complex. The Richmond Vona, LLC car accident lawyers have the resources and knowledge to thoroughly calculate losses in your unique case.
We can aggressively pursue maximum compensation so you can focus on what matters most: your recovery. Contact us today to learn more about how we may be able to help maximize your damages in a personal injury claim.
