What Kind of Damages Can you Receive from a Personal Injury Claim?
Whenever you are filing a lawsuit for a personal injury claim, there is a good chance that you could be awarded damages for your pain and suffering. You will also need compensation for the medical bills, loss of work, and any other injuries or losses you may have incurred as a result of negligence.
Here are some of the different types of damages you could be awarded:
Compensatory Damages
Compensatory Damages are meant to put the victim of negligence in the same place they would be if the incident didn’t occur. These damages help cover things such as loss of work, medical bills, damaged property, and any financial losses that may have occurred. They also work to restore victims for the emotional and psychological losses they may have occurred that do not necessarily have a monetary value. When someone loses a loved one, damages can be awarded for the loss of companionship.
Punitive or Exemplary Damages
Punitive damages are meant for punishing the defendant for the negligence or reckless behavior. These damages are used to prevent the defendant from taking the same action in the future. Most of the time punitive damages are awarded when the defendant’s actions were malicious, vindictive, or extremely reckless.
Another factor to consider when recognizing damages is comparative negligence. Sometimes there is more than one person at fault for the act of negligence or accident. In this case, damages can be reduced by the percentage of fault that is attributed to them.
If you have any questions considering damages or a personal injury claim, please feel free to contact our attorneys at 770-427-5588.