When someone is injured because of another person’s negligence, the financial consequences can extend well beyond the initial medical bills. An injury may lead to ongoing treatment, missed work, property damage, and other losses that affect a person’s daily life.
A personal injury claim may allow an injured person to seek compensation for several different types of damages. The damages available depend on the circumstances of the accident, the severity of the injuries, and the laws that apply to the claim. In more serious cases, an injured person may choose to speak with an Oakland personal injury law firm to better understand which losses may be included in a claim.
Medical Expenses
Medical expenses are one of the most common types of damages included in a personal injury claim.
These expenses may include:
- Emergency room treatment
- Hospital stays
- Doctor visits
- Surgery
- Prescription medications
- Physical therapy
- Diagnostic testing
- Medical equipment
A claim may also include the cost of future medical care when an injury is expected to require additional treatment.
Keeping copies of medical bills, treatment records, and other documentation can help establish the financial impact of the injury.
Lost Wages
An injury may prevent someone from working temporarily while they recover. Lost wages may be included in a personal injury claim when the injured person can show that the accident caused them to miss work.
Documentation may include pay stubs, employment records, tax documents, or statements from an employer.
Lost wage claims can apply to both employees and self-employed individuals, although proving lost income may require different types of financial records.
Loss of Future Earning Capacity
Some injuries can affect a person’s ability to work long after the accident.
If an injury prevents someone from returning to the same occupation, reduces the number of hours they can work, or limits their long-term career opportunities, the claim may include damages for reduced earning capacity.
These damages are generally intended to account for the difference between what a person likely would have earned without the injury and what they may be able to earn afterward.
Property Damage
Personal injury cases involving car accidents often include damage to a vehicle or other personal property.
Property-related damages may include:
- Vehicle repairs
- Vehicle replacement
- Damage to personal belongings
- Rental vehicle expenses
- Towing costs
The value of a property damage claim will generally depend on the extent of the damage and the value of the property involved.
When an accident involves disputed liability, serious injuries, or significant financial losses, a car accident attorney may also help evaluate how property damage and injury-related losses fit into the broader claim.
Pain and Suffering
Not every loss caused by an accident comes with a bill or receipt.
Pain and suffering damages may compensate an injured person for the physical discomfort and emotional impact associated with an injury.
The value of these damages may depend on factors such as the seriousness of the injury, the length of the recovery process, and whether the injury causes lasting limitations.
Emotional Distress
Serious accidents can also affect a person emotionally.
An injured person may experience anxiety, stress, fear, sleep problems, or other emotional difficulties following an accident. In some cases, these effects may be considered when determining damages in a personal injury claim.
Medical or mental health records may sometimes be used to document these effects.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
An injury may prevent someone from participating in activities they previously enjoyed.
For example, a person may no longer be able to exercise, travel, participate in hobbies, play sports, or take part in certain family activities.
Depending on the circumstances, the effect that an injury has on a person’s quality of life may be considered when calculating damages.
Permanent Disability or Disfigurement
More serious accidents may result in permanent injuries, scarring, disfigurement, or disabilities.
These injuries can affect a person’s ability to work, perform everyday tasks, or maintain the same lifestyle they had before the accident.
Claims involving permanent injuries may therefore include compensation for both the financial and personal effects of those injuries.
Other Damages May Be Available
The damages available in a personal injury case depend heavily on the facts of the accident and the laws of the state where the claim is brought.
Some cases may also involve additional categories of compensation. In limited circumstances, punitive damages may be available when the defendant’s conduct meets the legal standard required under applicable law.
Because every injury claim is different, determining the full value of a claim usually requires evaluating both the immediate losses caused by the accident and the ways the injury may continue to affect the injured person in the future.
Understanding the different categories of damages can help accident victims recognize that the financial impact of an injury may extend beyond the bills they receive immediately after an accident.