If you are hurt in a car accident, you could be in a position to collect damages. These damages are financial awards that attempt to compensate you for the harm done in the accident.
Readers should understand that there are different types of damages, and depending on the details of your specific accident, one or all of them could available to victims. Below, we examine the different types of damages, which might help you understand why it can be so important to discuss your options with an attorney if you have been in a car accident.
Economic damages
These damages can be objectively verified because there is evidence of economic loss. In other words, you can actually calculate them. They can include:
- Lost wages
- Medical expenses
- Cost to repair a vehicle
- Rehabilitative costs
Non-economic damages
These damages are far more difficult to calculate than economic damages, and are typically subjective. However, they can be just as substantial as economic damages, if not more so. They include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Cost of future pain
Punitive damages
In an effort to further penalize the party liable for your injuries, the courts may award punitive damages. These damages are reserved for cases where a party’s conduct is so malicious or reckless that the courts add on compensation strictly as means of punishing the wrongdoer.
Fight for the compensation you deserve
In the aftermath of any Florida car accident, there is the potential for all these damages to be available. Unfortunately, too many people make the mistake of thinking only in terms of the economic damages, which can prove to be a costly mistake.
In order to assess damages you suffered in an accident more accurately, it can be wise to discuss the details of your specific accident with an attorney. With legal guidance, you can build a claim that reflects the compensation you truly deserve.