Unfortunately, accidents can happen anywhere and at any time due to negligence. When you are injured through no fault of your own, you can seek compensation for your injuries through a personal injury lawsuit. When pursuing a personal injury lawsuit, you may wonder what types of compensation you can recover for your damages. Please continue reading to learn about the various forms of compensation you can seek and discover how our skilled Washington, D.C., Injury Attorneys can help you secure the fair compensation you deserve.
What types of compensation can I seek in a personal injury lawsuit?
You can seek compensatory and punitive damages when you file a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent party. Compensatory damages are intended to provide victims with compensation for their losses. Compensatory damages are divided into two main categories: special and general.
Special or economic damages can be considered any out-of-pocket financial expenses related to your injuries. They are quantifiable losses that can easily be calculated. Economic damages may include but are not limited to the following:
- Past and future medical bills
- Past and future lost wages
- Household services
- Rehabilitation services
- Property damage
General damages, on the other hand, are not quantifiable losses. These losses represent subjective damages. General damages are intended to compensate victims for intangible losses. Non-economic damages may include but are not limited to the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Disfigurement
It is critical to note that compensatory damages reimburse victims for their losses due to a negligent party’s actions. Punitive damages, on the other hand, are meant to punish the negligent party for their malicious behavior. Essentially, punitive damages are only ordered when a negligent party demonstrates a severe disregard for the safety or lives of others. This is considered “gross negligence.” Victims can be awarded punitive damages for the other parties’ willful and wanton misconduct if they are found grossly negligent.
How can I collect damages?
Before collecting compensatory or punitive damages, you must fulfill the burden of proof. You must prove that the other party’s negligence directly caused your injuries. From here, you must verify the losses you’ve incurred due to the responsible parties negligence.
Proving your general damages is more challenging than proving your special damages. You must provide the court with all bills related to your injuries to prove your general damages. This can include your medical bills, lost income, rehabilitation expenses, household services, and other calculable losses. Proving special damages is more complicated as they are subjective losses. Nevertheless, you can prove your general damages by providing the court with your medical records, written journal excerpts, and testimony from friends, family, and experts.
To maximize your chances of recovering monetary compensation for your damages, it is in your best interest to retain the legal services of a competent attorney from the Trombly & Singer, PLLC law firm. Our firm is committed to helping our clients fight for the rightful compensation they deserve.
