Compensation for a personal injury can be a complicated issue. The type and amount of compensation you receive will depend on several factors, including the severity of your injuries, whether you were at fault for the accident, and how long it takes to recover from your injuries. Here are some common types of compensation available in personal injury cases:
• Medical Bills
Medical bills can be crucial in proving the extent of your injuries. To verify the extent of your injuries, hire an injury attorney in Peterborough to help you gather all relevant medical records. Medical costs might include—but are not limited to—X-rays, lab tests, hospital visits, physical therapy and psychiatric care. Without copies of the doctor’s reports and bills for hospital stays, surgery and other treatments, your accident attorney will find it difficult to prove that your injuries warrant compensation.
• Lost Wages
Suppose you were unable to work due to injuries sustained in a car accident and did not receive any other income while off work (e.g., unemployment). In that case, that loss of income may also be included under your past, and future lost wages claim. In addition, if your injuries are so severe that they prevent you from returning to work at all (e.g., permanent disability) or if there is a significant risk that they will prevent you from returning to work in the future (e.g., partial disability), then the amount of lost wages that can be claimed will increase significantly because your ability to earn money has been permanently damaged. A lawyer can help document how much money was lost because of this missing work time.
• Pain and Suffering Damages
Pain and suffering is a broad term. It encompasses all of the negative mental and physical emotions experienced by a plaintiff due to an injury inflicted on them. For example, a plaintiff in a car accident may experience physical pain, disability, disfigurement, emotional distress and other adverse effects of their injuries. Pain and suffering damages compensate the plaintiff for their mental anguish, emotional distress and pain from their injuries.
• Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are usually reserved for situations where it is difficult to quantify actual economic losses caused by an injury but where there is clear evidence of malice or gross negligence on the part of a defendant. These damages serve as a deterrent to future misconduct and encourage defendants and their insurance carriers to take responsibility for injuries that result from their actions. Such damages are usually only awarded in cases involving personal injuries, such as automobile accidents or product liability claims. An injury attorney can assist with gathering evidence, negotiating with the defendant’s insurance company and representing you in court proceedings if needed.