After a serious accident involving injuries, most accident victims are concerned about paying for their expenses after the accident. Accident victims are also often concerned about whether or not they will have to pay those expenses out of their own pockets. They may have been forced to take time off work without pay, and could also be in physical pain, which can cause additional expenses.
Damages in a personal injury lawsuit are intended to compensate the accident victim. They are designed to make the accident victim whole again, and in some cases may exist to punish the person who caused the accident. There are several types of damages available in personal injury lawsuit. Some types of damages include:
- Medical expenses. Medical expenses are the most common type of damages in a personal injury case. Accident victims can be awarded damages for medical expenses related to the accident, as well as future physical therapy and rehab expenses, and future medical expenses.
- Lost wages. If you were forced to miss work because of the accident, you can receive compensation for your lost wages.
- Property damage. If your vehicle was damaged in the accident, you can recover compensation for those damages. The standard compensation is the difference in what the vehicle was worth before the accident and after the accident. If the vehicle is destroyed, you can receive the fair market value for the vehicle, which in some cases may be less than is owed on it.
- Loss of earning capacity. If you have a permanent injury, you can seek damages for the loss of future earnings. In order to be able to receive lost future earnings, you must be able to show the amount of wages you could have earned without the injury.
- Wrongful death. If an individual is killed in an accident, family members of the deceased can seek damages for wrongful death.
- Punitive damages. Punitive damages exist to punish the defendant for his or her wrongdoing, not to compensate the victim. Punitive damages are only available in some cases.
If you have been injured in an accident in the Los Angeles area, call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles personal injury attorney at 310-385-0567. My team can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.