Damages Recoverable in a Car Accident Case

If you have suffered injuries in a car accident, you may be able to recover damages for your losses and injuries. You may recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages or diminished employment opportunities, pain and suffering, and loss of a companion. Here is a brief account of the different types of damages:

Medical expenses

A victim may recover medical expenses relating to doctors’ fees, hospital charges, the ongoing need for special equipment, pain medication, physical therapy, and any other health care expense incurred as the direct result of the accident.

Property damage

Property damage claims cover the repair cost of the damaged car. In cases where the car is totally damaged, the settlement should include enough money to purchase a new car.

Pain and suffering

A victim may seek compensation for physical pain and suffering. Compensation for this type of injury depends on the seriousness of the pain and the prognosis for future pain associated with the injury. This may also include mental or emotional damage from the incident, like anxiety or stress.

Lost wages

A victim may recover damages for loss of earning capacity. Sometimes, a victim may be unable to return to work due to physical therapy sessions, time spent in the hospital, problems with mobility, or other factors that may prevent him/her from earning the usual wages.

Loss of companionship

If the victim is married and the injury deprives him/her from having a sexual relationship with his /her spouse, his/her uninjured spouse may claim loss of companionship damages.

In situations where the motorist dies as a result of the accident, the surviving family members can claim loss of society and companionship damages. However, the jury will take the following into consideration:

·         Whether the deceased driver had a loving and harmonious relationship with the plaintiff(s)

·         The living arrangements of loved ones

·         Impact of the death on the surviving family members