When someone is injured due to the negligence of another party, they may be entitled to recover damages for their injuries. Damages in a personal injury case can include both economic and non-economic damages. Monetary damages refer to the financial losses suffered by the victim, while non-economic damages refer to the emotional and physical harm suffered by the victim.
Medical Expenses
Medical expenses are one of the most common types of damages in a personal injury case. These expenses can include both past and future medical expenses. One-time medical expenses refer to the costs of medical treatment that the victim has already received. In contrast, future medical expenses refer to the costs of medical treatment that the victim will need in the future. This can include costs such as hospital bills, doctor's visits, prescription medication, and physical therapy.Lost Wages
Another common type of damage in a personal injury case is lost wages. This refers to the wages the victim has lost due to their injuries. This can include both past and future lost wages. Past lost wages refer to the wages that the victim has lost since the accident, while future lost salaries refer to the wages that the victim will lose in the future as a result of their injuries. This can include lost income from missed work, missed bonuses, missed promotions and other benefits.Pain and Suffering
In addition to economic damages, personal injury victims may also be entitled to recover non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering. This can include things like physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Pain and suffering refer to the physical and emotional pain and suffering that the victim has experienced due to their injuries.Punitive Damages
These damages are intended to punish the defendant for particularly egregious conduct and deter similar behaviour in the future. Punitive damages are awarded in addition to compensatory damages and are usually only awarded in cases where the defendant's conduct was reckless or intentional.Loss of Consortium
Loss of consortium damages is intended to compensate a spouse or family member for the injured party's loss of companionship, love and affection. These damages can be claimed by the spouse or family member of the injured party and are typically awarded in cases of severe injury or death.Loss of Reputation
Loss of reputation damages is intended to compensate an individual for damage to their reputation due to the defendant's conduct. These damages may be awarded to a person falsely accused of a crime or to a person whose reputation has been harmed due to defamatory statements made by the defendant.Loss of Enjoyment
Loss of enjoyment damages is intended to compensate an individual for the loss of enjoyment of life due to their injuries. This can include the inability to participate in hobbies or other activities enjoyed before the injury.Emotional Distress
Emotional distress damages are intended to compensate an individual for the emotional trauma from the defendant's conduct. These damages can include things like anxiety, depression, and PTSD.In conclusion, personal injury victims may be entitled to recover a wide range of damages for their injuries. Economic damages, such as medical expenses and lost wages, can help compensate for the financial losses suffered by the victim. In contrast, non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, can help pay for the emotional and physical harm suffered by the victim. It is essential to consult with an injury lawyer to understand the types of damages that may be available in your specific case.
