Being injured in an accident is often a traumatic and extremely difficult experience. Injuries sustained in accidents can be painful, debilitating, and time-consuming to heal. An accident might even be life-altering, leading to long-term effects on your health, happiness, and well-being.
As a result, the costs associated with accidents can be high, depending on the nature and extent of the injuries and other damages caused by the accident. Every accident is different, making it difficult for injured victims to know or estimate the value of their case.
If you have been injured and are trying to figure out next steps, including how much you should pursue in compensation, we highly recommend speaking with our personal injury lawyers in Columbus for guidance. You should be able to focus on getting better, not fighting insurance companies that do not have your best interests in mind.
You may be able to recover compensation without filing a lawsuit, or you may need to file suit against the at-fault party to obtain what you deserve. Our personal injury lawyers will discuss your rights and options at a free case review. Please call Colombo Law at (614) 362-7000 today.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the easiest type of losses to understand in a personal injury claim. These damages relate directly to expenses incurred or income lost as a result of the accident, including:
Medical Expenses
In many accident cases, medical expenses can make up the largest portion of damages. After all, medical treatment can be extremely expensive, especially if your injuries are serious.
However, it’s important to think beyond short-term expenses when calculating your total medical expenses. If you require ongoing treatment or therapy, those expenses should also be paid by the negligent party.
Lost Wages
Unfortunately, being injured in an accident can also mean time away from work, which can mean lost wages. In other words, not only do many accident victims face medical bills they cannot afford, but now they cannot rely on their typical income, either.
You can also recover compensation for lost wages as part of your personal injury claim. This category of damages helps to offset the income you have lost as a result of your injuries.
Loss of Earning Capacity
For some accident victims, the impact of an injury on their ability to earn a living is not just a short-term problem. You may be unable to continue in your occupation, or even work at all, in the event of a debilitating injury.
For example, if you drive for a living but sustain a spine injury, you may not be able to sit all day, meaning you may need to find a different line of work. This might also mean that you are unable to make the same amount of money you previously made, which should be accounted for as part of your lost earning capacity damages.
Property Damage
Depending on the circumstances, your personal property may be damaged in an accident. In car accident claims, for example, you may be entitled to compensation for your damaged or totaled vehicle, as well as other possessions that were lost or destroyed.
Non-Economic Damages
Unlike economic damages, non-economic damages do not relate directly to financial losses. Instead, these types of damages account for the emotional and psychological pain caused by your injury.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you calculate the non-economic damages in your case. Without legal guidance, you may overlook some of the compensation to which you are entitled.
Pain & Suffering
The costs associated with accident injuries can be high, but so can the level of pain victims experience. Pain and suffering damages compensate you for both the immediate pain and physical trauma suffered in the accident, as well as the longer-term pain associated with your injuries.
Emotional Anguish
Beyond the physical pain experienced in an accident, victims may also face long-term emotional and psychological difficulties. These difficulties may include anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
As with compensation for physical pain, you may be able to recover damages for the emotional distress you experience as a result of the accident and your injuries.
Loss of Consortium
Loss of consortium damages principally refer to the loss of spousal services and physical intimacy with your significant other. These damages may be recoverable if the relationship with your spouse is adversely affected as a result of your injury.
In some cases, loss of consortium damages can also be recovered in personal injury claims where a parent’s relationship with and ability to support a child or children is impacted.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
If the accident has made it impossible for you to enjoy activities that previously contributed to your enjoyment of life – such as biking or running – you may also be able to recover compensation for this loss. These damages may also be recoverable for losses affecting the ability to take trips with your family and participate in other activities.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are different from economic and non-economic damages in that they are not designed to compensate injury victims for their losses. Instead, punitive damages are meant to punish the negligent party and make an example of their misconduct.
According to the Ohio punitive damages statute, punitive damages may be awarded if “The actions or omissions of [the] defendant demonstrate malice or aggravated or egregious fraud.” As such, these damages are only recoverable in extreme cases.
Our personal injury lawyers will investigate your case and present evidence on your behalf to ensure you recover the full compensation you deserve. Depending on the circumstances, this may include punitive damages.
Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers Today
Calculating how much you may be able to recover in compensation is a difficult process, as is fighting with insurance companies for what you deserve. To succeed, it is important to work with qualified personal injury lawyers who will aggressively fight for your rights.
At Colombo Law, we are always here to help injured accident victims in Columbus and all of Ohio recover the compensation they need and deserve after being injured by someone else’s negligence. Find out how we can help you by calling (614) 362-7000 today for a free consultation.
