Personal Injury Damages: What Kind Do You Get?
When an accident occurs, the injuries are usually turned into dollar figures. These dollar amounts are called “monetary damages” or “compensatory damages.” Determining the amount of the damages for doctor and hospital charges, car repair or replacement, and the fees charged by attorneys is easy. These are called “Economic Damages” (sometimes also called “Pecuniary Damages”) because they reimburse the injured party for “out of pocket” expenses incurred as a result of the accident. Lost income is also often included in Economic Damages when the person suffering the injuries must miss work.
But damages are also often awarded for “pain and suffering,” which is not so cut and dry. These damages are called “Non-Economic Damages” (sometimes also called “Non-Pecuniary Damages”). It can be difficult to apply a dollar figure to pain or to suffering, so this is where your personal injury attorney comes in. It’s the job of your lawyer to convince the responsible party’s lawyer that you deserve a certain amount of money for your pain and suffering. Much will be made of the severity of your injuries and how long they have caused or will cause you pain. If the injury results in any kind of permanent disability, the amount of money awarded for pain and suffering will be greater.
Non-Economic Damages for pain and suffering may also include something called “loss of consortium.” This means that the spouse of the injured party is also entitled to compensation if the person injured has been unable to participate in the marriage sexually or otherwise as a result of the accident.
These are not the only kinds of damages, though. If you’re in an auto accident, you may also receive “Punitive Damages,” which are allowed in Florida. These kinds of damages apply if the responsible party was very reckless in causing the accident. It may take an excellent personal injury lawyer to prove that the responsible party was truly reckless and negligent in the accident.
This is why it’s important to choose an experienced attorney to help you get the best possible settlement in your car accident case.
Personal injuries due to automobile accidents are among the practice areas represented by Alitowski & Moore, P.A. If you have been injured in an accident, contact a Broward County/Dade County/Palm Beach Injury Attorney/Lawyer, and find out if you could be eligible to receive monetary damages. Offices are located in Fort Lauderdale and North Miami Beach.
