In a personal injury case, you may be entitled to claim damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, loss of earning capacity, or expenses associated with wrongful death. Your lawyer will work with you to estimate your damages and submit compelling evidence of your claim to the insurance company.
How much your case is worth depends on factors such as the circumstances of your accident, who is at fault, and the total sum of your losses. A personal injury attorney assesses your damages and tries to get you the maximum compensation possible depending on the facts of the case. Let’s take a closer look at damages that you can claim in a personal injury case.
Medical Expenses
Medical expenses may make up the majority of your financial losses. The more severe your injuries are, the higher your medical bills will be. Expenses may include:
- ER visits
- Surgical procedures
- Hospital stay
- Follow-up doctor visits
- Pain medication
- Medical devices
- Physical therapy/rehabilitation
You may also have to pay for in-home care if you are going through long-term recovery. it is important that you keep all medical reports, invoices, receipts, and other documents so that you can share them with your attorney. These documents are vital in calculating your damages.
Lost Wages & Benefits
If you are out of work for several days due to your recovery, you may lose pay or benefits. Benefits may include retirement contributions, insurance, tips, bonuses, or other forms of income that you may have received had you been working. Your lawyer can help you estimate how much pay you lost.
You will want to contact your employer and ask them to send you documents that verify how much pay or benefits you lost during your recovery time. These documents are also important, as you can verify your lost wages and add them to your total damages.
Reduced Earning Capacity or Disability
A personal injury caused by a car accident, slip and fall, truck accident, or motorcycle accident can lead to disability or dismemberment. As a result, you either can’t work or your ability to earn a living has been reduced significantly. It can leave you feeling uncertain about your ability to provide for your household.
Working with your lawyer, you may be eligible to submit a disability claim based on the projected amount of future lost income. This may include future earning capacity, lost income/career opportunities, or projected retirement.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering often refer to severe physical pain or discomfort and mental or emotional anguish you experience as a result of your injuries. You may be able to account for the following damages:
- Physical discomfort
- Severe anxiety or depression
- Loss of consortium (physical companionship)
- Loss of parenthood
- Loss of joy of life
- An overall decline in lifestyle or living conditions
Keep in mind that it is more difficult to estimate the value of these types of damages. Furthermore, these issues are often brought up in lawsuits in which a lawyer may go to court to argue your case. If you paid for counseling or therapy due to an anxiety disorder or depression caused by your accident, you may be able to claim your expenses as a part of your damages.
Wrongful Death
When a family loses a loved one, the expenses can add up quickly. If that person was the primary provider for the family, then the source of income can suddenly stop. This can cause a wide range of financial problems, putting the family in a stressful situation before they’ve even had a chance to grieve for their loved one.
Therefore, your family may be able to claim the following:
- Pre-death medical expenses
- Burial plot
- Casket
- Tombstone
- Ceremony expenses
- Loss of future earnings
Your family may also be entitled to damages associated with pain and suffering. These damages may include physical suffering of the deceased, loss of companionship, or loss of parenting.
Get Help from a Personal Injury Lawyer in The Birmingham, AL
If you suffered injuries or wrongful death from an accident, Collins Law can help you file a claim and recover your damages. Get a free, no-obligation consultation from a personal injury lawyer in Birmingham, AL by calling (205) 881-0403.