Auto accidents can lead to serious injuries and losses. Victims and survivors of victims can pursue liable parties for compensation.
In an auto accident claim, victims can recover economic and noneconomic damages. Here is what you should know about each:
Economic damages
Any financial expense that has a clear value can be considered economic damage. As a result of a victim’s harm from an auto accident, they could collect the following economic damages:
- Medical expenses: Any bills that the victim received from medical care after a car accident can be considered economic damage. These bills can include surgery, physical therapy, rehabilitation, medical equipment and medication. Victims could also receive damages for future healthcare costs.
- Funeral costs: If a victim dies in a car accident, survivors can seek damages for funeral costs.
- Property damage: Many auto accidents lead to property damage. Vehicle repairs are a common kind of recoverable economic damage. Victims of auto accidents could also recover damages for home or building repairs.
- Lost wages: If a victim is injured from a car accident and is unable to work, they could recover damages for lost wages. These lost wage payments could be used to pay household expenses and provide child care.
Any type of monetary loss from a car accident could be recovered in an auto accident claim.
Non-economic damages
Non-economic damages are not as clear as economic damages. There is, typically, no price that can be placed on non-economic damages.
- Pain and suffering: Any kind of mental or physical discomfort caused by an auto accident can be considered pain and suffering.
- Loss of companionship: A spouse of an auto accident victim could pursue damages for loss of companionship.
- Loss of enjoyment from life: A victim’s injuries could prevent them from doing the things that they enjoyed out of life.
Victims can learn how they can value non-economic damages when filing for an auto accident claim. Legal guidance can help educate victims on the damages they can recover in a claim.