If suffer an injury at the hands of someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim and seek monetary compensation. What exactly can you file a personal injury claim for? Are damages limited to physical injuries? Does the law allow you to seek monetary compensation beyond the cost of your medical bills? Get answers from Kaplan personal injury lawyer Bart Bernard. In addition to medical bills, there are several types of damages that personal injury victims may seek in their lawsuit against the liable party.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering includes the pain and suffering from the physical injury itself as well as all the associated medical treatments, surgical procedures, physical therapy, chiropractor visits, etc. Pain and suffering may also include emotional and psychological pain. The amount you can claim for pain and suffering depends on varying factors, such as:
- Injury severity
- Any permanent or long-term damage
- The degree the injury has disrupted your quality of life
Pain and suffering is a more subjective measurement and is more difficult to measure as compared with other types of damages. Juries will often spend considerable time evaluating the Plaintiff’s pain and suffering before assigning a number in making their award.
Loss of Earnings
An injury means hospital visits and recovery time, often at home. That translates to time away from work. Your demand for damages may include lost wages as a result of missed time away from your job. Depending on the circumstances, the court will sometimes base your lost wages on your rate of pay during the several months just prior to sustaining your injury. The courts may acquire a schedule of earnings from your employer. It is important that you retain copies of all pay stubs and receipts in order substantiate this claim for damages.
Loss of earnings may also consider the loss of future wages. For example, If your injury forces you to quit your current job and find a new one, it is important to compare your new rate of pay to your previous income level. Similarly, prolonged periods away from your job may affect your pension entitlement. You attorney will explore these and other similar factors that have an impact on claim for lost wages.
Property Damage
The most common example of property damage is your car after an automobile accident. It may also include damage to valuable items that were in your vehicle at the time of the accident. For motorcyclists, this may include damage not only to your bike, but also protective gear like the helmet, gauntlets, boots, etc. Whether your property sustained diminished value or was deemed a total loss, your claim for damages may include the value of property that was affected.
Get Legal Representation
If you have been in an accident, discuss your your legal options with an attorney as soon as possible. Bart Bernard Injury Lawyers offers free case evaluations to those who are suffering the aftermath of a serious accident. If you qualify to file a lawsuit, we will get straight to work on your case and getting the maximum of damages to which you are entitled. Get it Done Right™️ with Bart Bernard!
