A car accident often strikes when you least expect it, and the recovery period can be extremely stressful, especially if you’ve suffered significant injuries and you’re required to take time off work to heal. After a car accident, dealing with serious physical injury and property damage can create a serious financial burden. If the other driver caused the car accident, you may be eligible for several different types of compensation in a car accident claim.
To receive just compensation, you need to seek the help of an experienced lawyer from a reputable firm, such as Wyatts Lawyers. They can expertly navigate the complicated process and pull out all the stops so you can get what you deserve for the damage and injuries you incurred.
However, the damages you can recover will depend on the extent of your injuries and other losses experienced due to the car crash. As a car accident victim, talking to an experienced personal injury lawyer can help you in court to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries, so you can focus on your recovery. Here are five types of compensation you might be entitled to in a car accident claim:
Medical Expenses
After a car accident, you may end up spending weeks, if not months, in the hospital and even undergoing rehabilitation. This makes you eligible for compensation for your current and future medical expenses related to the car accident. Compensation for your medical bills may include any payment you’ve made for hospital stays, physical therapy, and pain medication. You’re also eligible for any future medical expense that you could incur due to your injuries. This can include ongoing medications or corrective surgeries needed to ensure complete recovery.
Medical expenses today can be sky-high, and shouldering them can drain your life savings. It’s not fair that you spend your own money for another person’s fault. However, proving this in court can be tricky, especially under very challenging circumstances. Luckily for you, a personal injury lawyer can arrange a substantial settlement that won’t leave you struggling for the rest of your life.
In choosing your legal representative, ensure you select a professional who specializes in car accident cases to increase your chances of obtaining a favorable settlement. Credible websites and online resources can aid in narrowing down your options for a legal professional like a car accident lawyer.
Lost Income
Injuries sustained from a car accident can make you unable to work for weeks or even months. That can lead to loss of wages and not being able to meet the daily needs of your family, which can be stressful for you and your family, especially if you already live from paycheck to paycheck. You may request reimbursement for the loss of wages or income during the period you were unable to work while recovering from your injuries. If the accident caused you permanent disability, forcing you to find other lower-paying jobs, you might also receive compensation for the loss of future income.
The economical cost of losing your ability to work can be pretty devastating. Computing this depends on many factors. An efficient and reputable layer should be able to help you with this. This is important since the last thing you’d want is worrying about your economic stability as you’re recuperating from your injuries.
Pain and Suffering
You can also seek compensation for the pain and suffering experienced due to the injuries sustained from the car accident. The emotional distress you experience after getting involved in a car crash can make you go through mental anguish, depression, PTSD, anxiety, and nightmares, making your life extremely difficult. This amount of non-economic damages can be substantial depending on the nature of your injuries and diagnosis.
If you’re unable to do the things you’re passionate about because of the accident, it’s something that can’t even be compensated. But, knowing that the medical expenses are already taken care of can give you a little piece of mind.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Loss of enjoyment of life is also a type of non-economic damages you may claim in a car accident case. It’s the compensation for the things you can no longer do because of your injuries, such as hobbies, activities, and spending time with loved ones.
Loss of enjoyment of life can be challenging to prove, as it’s an intangible loss. However, several factors can be considered to establish the loss, such as:
- The extent to which your injuries have limited your activities
- Your hobbies and interests
- Your social life
- Your career
With these factors, the compensation you can receive for loss of enjoyment of life will vary depending on your case’s specific facts. However, it’s important to remember that loss of enjoyment of life is a real and significant loss. Therefore, you shouldn’t hesitate to seek compensation for it.
Property Damage
If the accident caused severe damage to your car or even totalled it, you may seek compensation for the property damage. The damages could include towing costs and the cost of repairs or replacing your vehicle. Apart from car damage, you could also recover damages to any other of your personal property during the collision. Be sure to document damages to your property at the accident scene and keep a record of all receipts to ensure you get the compensation you deserve for your property damage.
Punitive Damages
You can also claim punitive damages from the at-fault driver if the court finds their conduct or actions were unruly or irresponsible, leading to the car accident. For instance, if the accused driver was driving while intoxicated or felt extremely angry after the accident, they rammed onto your car again while you lay inside the car injured. They may be required by law to pay you punitive damages to prevent further bad behaviour.
However, note that the awarded punitive damages are discretionary, with the court considering factors such as the severity of the defendant’s conduct, the extent of harm to the plaintiff, and the defendant’s financial resources.
Hence, it’s best to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney if you are considering filing a car accident case. They can help determine whether punitive damages are an option in your case and gather evidence to prove that the defendant’s conduct was reckless or negligent.
Endnote
Getting into a car accident can cause a heavy financial burden to you and your family. Not only are you worried about healing from your injuries, but also the loss of income and inability to cover household expenses. However, knowing what types of compensation you can be entitled to after a car accident can help ensure you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries and loss in a car accident claim.