If you suffer injuries due to someone else’s negligence, such as in a car accident that another driver causes, you may deserve financial compensation. The damages that you suffer are the costs you are facing due to their negligence, for which they may be responsible.
In terms of economic damages, these are things that directly cost you money because of the injury. Examples include medical bills, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, future medical care—such as physical rehabilitation—and much more. These are either services you need to pay for or ways that your income has been directly reduced. But what about non-economic damages?
Significant changes to your life
Non-economic damages are things that have significantly changed your life and potentially your future, but they are non-monetary losses that do not necessarily have a clear dollar value. Examples include:
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
For instance, if you suffered a severe spinal cord injury, it may limit the activities you can do or make it harder for you to be a parent to your child. You could also live with chronic pain, even if you receive treatment for the initial injury.
It can be complicated to determine exactly what you are owed for non-economic damages. With medical bills, you will simply get a copy of the costs from the physicians or the hospital where you receive treatment. But determining what type of compensation you deserve for the pain and suffering you have to endure or the emotional distress you faced in the wake of the accident can be more complex.
That is why it can help to work with an experienced personal injury attorney as you explore all of your legal options.