Economic Recovery From a Personal Injury

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Economic Recovery From a Personal Injury

If you or someone you know has suffered a serious personal injury due to another party's negligence or wrongdoing, you may be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for the damages you have endured as a result of the accident.

There are a number of economic recoveries you may receive from a personal injury lawsuit. What you can recover will be dependant on the kind of damages you suffered from the injury both prior to and after the incident. In many cases, your loved ones may also be entitled to economic recovery in a personal injury case if your injuries interfered with their relationship with you or if the injury resulted in death (please see wrongful death page).

The following is a list of economic recoveries you may be entitled to receive in a personal injury lawsuit:

•  Past and Future Medical Costs – You may be compensated for the cost of medical treatment for your injuries. Additionally, you can receive economic recovery for future medical costs if your injuries require continued medical care and treatment. A jury, based on the evidence, will estimate the approximate amount of medical expenses and award you accordingly.

•  General Damages – You may be entitled to receive compensation for the general damages you experienced because of the incident such as physical or emotional pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of companionship, shortened life expectancy, and, in cases of defamation, loss of reputation. While it is hard to put a dollar amount to these damages, a court will try to determine a fair amount of compensation given the circumstances.

•  Lost Wages – This type of economic recovery represents the amount of money a plaintiff could have earned from the date of the injury to the date of the verdict or settlement.

•  Loss of Earning Capacity – This type of damage can be recovered if a plaintiff can prove that his or her capability to earn money has been impaired as a result of the injury. Some factors considered prior to determining the amount of recovery may include the plaintiff's age, health, lifestyle, occupation, life expectancy, training, talent, past earnings, etc.

•  Permanent disability . These damages are often proved with expert medical testimony. Typically, a doctor must examine the plaintiff to verify that permanent disability resulted from the injury.

•  Pain and Suffering – You may be entitled to receive compensation for past and future pain and suffering that resulted from the personal injury.

•  Loss of Consortium – In the event that an injury or accident affects relationships between loved ones, a jury may award plaintiffs and their families economic recovery to compensate for the deprivation of affection, companionship, comfort, etc. that resulted from the injury.

•  Punitive damages – These damages are awarded when the court determines that the defendant's conduct or negligence was wanton, willful, or intentional. Punitive damages can greatly exceed the total amount of compensatory damages in a case. They are designed to punish the defendant and to deter others from committing similar act in the future.

•  Other damages – Other types of economic damages may be awarded in a personal injury case including, but not limited to: household services, medical surveillance, permanent disability, disfigurement, and loss of society . Please speak with a qualified attorney about your case to determine other damages you may be eligible to receive.

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