A personal injury case’s award to a plaintiff does not follow a set formula; instead, the judge or jury will analyze the claim in numerous categories of potential damages. The purpose of any damage award is to pay the victim for all sorts of economic and non-economic damages that they have suffered. Additional forms of damage awards may be available to punish the party who is at fault in the most extreme circumstances of carelessness.
Depending on the facts of the case and the amount of the injuries sustained, any or all of the following forms of injury may be included in the value of a damage award. Damages for pain and suffering.
The Real-World Cost of Medical Treatment
Any genuine medical expenses incurred by the victim as a result of hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, or home care are all eligible for reimbursement. Those medical bills might be used to demonstrate the expenses that were incurred. Future medical costs can be included in this category if they can be predicted with certainty and if the patient’s recovery is still in progress.
Loss of Wages or Other Forms of Income
An injury can frequently prohibit a victim from returning to work for an extended length of time, and any wages that have been lost or that are estimated to be lost in the future can be included in the award. This is a straightforward calculation for employees. Those who are self-employed will need to establish their actual income as well as their projected earnings in order to receive this form of reimbursement.
Personal Property Has Been Damaged
If you have suffered a loss of personal property as a result of the accident, such as a vehicle or other items, the confirmed replacement cost of that property can be included in your compensation.
Suffering and Discomfort
This form of harm is less specific, and the amount of compensation awarded will be determined by the extent and seriousness of the injuries you have sustained. This type of harm can be paid if there is continuing discomfort and bodily function loss, even if there is no exact cash number that can be estimated in all circumstances.
Distress on an Emotional Level
The shock and impact of an accident or injury may extend beyond the physical, and the law provides for compensation for victims who suffer emotional or psychological anguish as a result of the accident or injury. In the same way that pain and suffering are subjective, the amount of the reward is also open to interpretation.
Damages for Punishment
The degree of recklessness displayed by the party at fault can be so great in some situations, such as in product liability lawsuits or when you need a Long Island, NY drunk driving accident lawyer because the other driver was drunk, that an award will be made specifically to punish them for their actions. The amount of punitive damages awarded will be determined by the degree of responsibility, the nature of the harm incurred, and the amount of similar judgements in previous cases. Some of these awards might be in the millions of dollars if the victim’s life has been irrevocably altered as a result of the accident.
