Types of Damages Available in Personal Injury Cases

A personal injury case can involve a variety of different factors. The injury victim, known as a Plaintiff in a lawsuit, may be able to recover money for medical bills, loss of wages and earning capacity, disfigurement, pain and suffering, and even punitive damages. The amount of compensation the victim receives will depend on the circumstances surrounding their accident, but can range anywhere from thousands to millions of dollars. Read on to learn more about the different types of damages that may be available.
Loss of earning capacity
A plaintiff who lost his or her job due to an injury or disease may be eligible for a claim for loss of earning capacity. This type of injury compensation is based on projected earnings loss, not actual earnings. However, it is important to note that lost earning capacity may not be as easy to prove as the amount of time lost from work. To determine whether a plaintiff qualifies for loss of earning capacity, the injury must have caused a substantial impairment in the injured person’s ability to earn an income.
Pain and suffering damages
The amount of pain and suffering damages in a personal injury case depends on a variety of factors. The biggest factor is the amount of medical bills the victim has incurred. The amount of time it takes for the person to recover will also affect the value of their claim. If a person is paralyzed due to an accident, pain and suffering damages are higher than those of a person with a broken bone.
Medical bills
Many plaintiffs fail to get the medical bills they need after an accident. Whether these bills are paid out of personal funds or from a judgment award depends on the details of the case. Your personal injury lawyer can help you determine which medical costs will be covered. Generally, a plaintiff must describe the treatment they received and relate it to the accident. Otherwise, a court will refuse to admit medical bills as evidence.
Punitive damages
Punitive damages are a type of compensation that punishes a defendant for causing an accident. The purpose of this type of compensation is not to compensate for the exact nature of the plaintiff’s injuries, but to punish the defendant for their unusual malice. Punitive damages are generally much higher than compensatory damages, and are only awarded when the defendant was particularly reckless or negligent. As such, punitive damages are often much higher than compensatory damages in personal injury cases.
Final Thoughts
Las Vegas personal injury lawyers are your best friend when it comes to getting the financial compensation you deserve following any accident caused by a third party due to negligence or carelessness. Without them, you would simply receive much less. This is why every single legal specialist out there recommends that you hire a very experienced firm.
Even if the attorneys do get a percentage of the final compensation you receive, it is still worth it in the long term since they do get you more than you can do alone.