What Damages Can I Recover in a Personal Injury Case?

After an accident you can recover many different types of damages to help offset the financial costs you will incur.

Accidents cause serious injuries that have the potential to be devastating for victims. When an accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, or carelessness, you can file a claim against the at-fault party to recover damages. The damages awarded in a personal injury case are intended to make you whole again after an accident. Below are the three types of damages you may be able to recover if you are successful with your personal injury claim.

Economic Damages

Economic damages have a quantifiable dollar value. These damages include:

• Medical expenses: Medical costs often make up the bulk of damages in personal injury claims. These damages include ambulance services, hospital visits, physical therapy, and more.
• Lost income: If you cannot return to work while you are recovering from your injuries, you can recover damages for that lost income. You can also include damages for lost bonuses and benefits in your claim.
• Loss of future earning capacity: In some cases, accident victims cannot return to the same line of work and so, they cannot earn the same level of income they once did. When this is the case, you can include these damages in your claim.

Any other out-of-pocket expense you incurred as a result of your accident can also be included as economic damages in your claim. For example, you can recover the cost of transportation to and from doctor’s appointments.

Non-Economic Damages

New Jersey law recognizes that not all losses incurred during an accident have an actual dollar value, but you still deserve to be compensated for them. Non-economic damages are more difficult to quantify because they do not have a concrete value. Some of the most common types of non-economic damages are as follows:

• Pain and suffering: Perhaps the most common type of non-economic damages, pain and suffering damages are intended to compensate for the physical pain and mental distress the accident caused.
• Loss of enjoyment of life: When you cannot continue to take part in activities you once loved, or perform simple daily functions, you can include damages for loss of enjoyment of life.
• Loss of companionship or consortium: In wrongful death cases, surviving spouses can recover loss of companionship or consortium damages to compensate for the loss of an intimate relationship.

A personal injury lawyer will know how to value non-economic damages so you claim the full compensation you deserve.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are rare in personal injury cases, but they are sometimes awarded. Punitive damages are not intended to compensate you for your loss, but to punish the defendant when they acted with gross negligence. In New Jersey, punitive damages are capped at five times the amount of economic and non-economic damages, or at $350,000, whichever is the greater amount.

Our Personal Injury Lawyers in Freehold Can Help You Claim the Damages You Deserve

If you have been hurt in an accident caused by the negligence of someone else, our Freehold personal injury lawyers can assist with your case. At Lomurro Law, we know how to value your claim and will hold the liable party accountable for paying the full damages you deserve. Call us today at 732-414-0300 or fill out our online form to schedule a free initial consultation.