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When someone suffers a personal injury, they can qualify for all different kinds of damages, but those damages depend on a variety of different factors, such as the nature of the personal injury and the extent of the injuries. However, regardless of the type of personal injury suffered, there are still certain types of damages to which the victim is owed.
In order to attain those damages, legal experts like lawyers John Hipskind and Brady McAninch recommend that the victim hire a personal injury attorney to help them. The lawyer can help the victim gather evidence, file their injury claim, and negotiate with the insurance company so that they offer a fair settlement. No matter what kinds of damages you qualify for, a personal injury lawyer will help to make sure that you get them.
Types Of Damages
Special Or Economic Damages
These are the kinds of damages that have a clear monetary value and are meant to compensate the victim for their losses. When someone suffers a personal injury, they will need to pay for the expenses caused by the injury. There can be many different kinds of special damages in a personal injury case, such as the following:
Medical Expenses – A person has to get treatment for the injuries they suffer in a personal injury case and those medical bills can add up. Naturally, the more seriously the person is injured, the higher their medical bills.
Lost Wages – Someone who suffers a personal injury might be unable to work while they recover. If that is the case, then they should be compensated for the wages they would have earned if they were still able to work.
Damaged Or Destroyed Property – If any property, such as a vehicle, gets damaged or destroyed in a personal injury, then the victim will need to be compensated for the repair or replacement costs of the property.
General Damages
These are damages that do not have a specific monetary value attached to them. The reason is that they can cause the victim mental, emotional, or psychological distress, none of which have a fixed monetary value associated with them. Since there is no inherent monetary value for general damages, they are usually calculated by multiplying the special damages by a certain amount. That means general damages are often worth more than special damages. Some types of general damages include the following:
Pain And Suffering – This is the pain and suffering experienced by the victim that is directly caused by personal injury.
Emotional Distress – A personal injury can be an emotionally taxing experience and the victim can be compensated for the emotional turmoil they experience because of it.
Psychological Problems – A personal injury can also leave lingering psychological problems like PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) that persist well after the accident has occurred.
Loss Of Enjoyment – If the injury leaves the victim unable to participate in or enjoy activities that they could before, then they can receive compensation for that.
Contact An Attorney If You Suffered A Personal Injury
A personal injury attorney gives you the best chance to recover the damages that you qualify for in your personal injury case. They will fight to get you the maximum amount of the compensation that you are owed, so be sure to contact an attorney if you have suffered an injury that was caused by the negligence of another person.
