What Are the Three Categories of Personal Injuries?

Economic, punitive, and non-economic damages are the primary categories of personal injury claims. The details of an injury, the circumstances involved, and the laws that apply in a particular jurisdiction impact the type of damages you are entitled to. An experienced personal injury attorney gives legal advice tailored to your unique circumstances and injury details. Here are the main categories of personal injuries:

1. Economic Damages

Economic damages include a wide variety of financial losses. Medical expenses and lost income are some of the categories that fall under economic damages. Here are a few details concerning different types of economic damages:

Medical Expenses

Past medical expenses include bills you incur from the time of the accident to your present stage of treatment. Medical bills, specialist consultations, diagnostic assessments, medications, and rehabilitation programs are some of the medical expenses. They can also include the use of applicable assistive devices and medical equipment.

Present medical expenses are part of the medical costs resulting from injury. They include continuing medical costs such as regular checkups, therapies for pain management, and other ongoing medical requirements. A personal injury attorney can help you determine future medical expenses that are part of the economic damages. Such expenses can encompass the expected costs of long-term care, like surgeries and rehabilitation programs.

Lost Income

Lost income accounts for the payment you miss because of the injury due to the inability to work or absence from work. Varying payments like bonuses and commissions can be included as part of the lost income. To help your case, a personal injury lawyer documents the typical amounts of payments you receive. They present evidence on how the injury prevents you from receiving these regular payments.

You may also factor in future income. This is necessary when the injury has a long-term effect on your capacity to work or earn money. Experienced personal injury lawyers help you conduct vocational assessments to help estimate the decrease in earning potential.

Out-of-Pocket Costs

Out-of-pocket expenses like travel costs incurred due to medical appointments, attending rehabilitation, and other travel expenses are part of the economic damages. Economic damages also include childcare arrangements that you may need to pay after an accident. An experienced attorney can help you incorporate the costs of home modifications, such as installing wheelchair ramps and incorporating necessary bathroom adaptations.

2. Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages include subjective experiences. This type of compensation recognizes the impact of injuries beyond your finances. They include:

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering damages account for physical and emotional distress. Physical distress includes nerve pain, aches, and burns, causing current and ongoing discomfort. Emotional pain encompasses fear, trauma, and mental stress linked to the accident. Your attorney helps you assess the influence of pain and suffering by factoring in aspects such as the severity and duration. They factor in the extent to which the pain restricts routine activities and sleep.

Loss of Enjoyment

Losing enjoyment encompasses the inability to engage in activities that you enjoyed before because of the injury. You may struggle to engage in hobbies, social events, and traveling. Personal injury lawyers help you assess the extent of your loss of enjoyment by documenting your lifestyle before the injury and any current limitations you experience.

3. Punitive Damages

Punitive damages go beyond compensation and aim to advance measures like fines and arrests of the perpetrators. These damages include intentional and reckless conduct that may lead to serious harm. Punitive damages can include instances like a construction firm deliberately using unsafe components that cause injury or death.

Product manufacturers selling defective items knowingly also encompass punitive damages. An established lawyer helps your case by gathering the necessary elements, such as proof of intent and reckless actions compromising public safety. They may help prove serious harm and show how your case outcomes help address public interest by preventing similar actions in the future.

Hire a Personal Injury Attorney Today

Knowing the type of damages that apply in personal injury claims helps you navigate the process of pursuing compensation after an accident. Experienced personal injury attorneys use their familiarity with the litigation processes to incorporate the factors the court prioritizes in your claim. This helps strengthen your case and increases the likelihood of receiving maximum compensation. Consult a qualified attorney today to learn more about the categories of personal injuries.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *