Choosing The Perfect Counsel

If you have been injured due to an accident or other form of injury in which the party responsible was acting negligently or recklessly, then they can be held responsible for damages. Damages are compensatory funds that are awarded to you if you successfully win a personal injury suit against the person who caused the accident. However, not all funds are created equally. There are different types of damages that can be awarded to you. Read on and discover just a few of the different types of damages that can be awarded to you in a personal injury suit.

Medical Damages

This is perhaps the most common form of damages that can be awarded to you. Medical damages simply cover the medical bills which you had to pay that relate to the injury that was caused. Not only will you receive the amount for which you have had to pay, but you will usually be awarded funds for any further treatment you have to undergo due to complications from the injury. For example, if an individual broke your arm during a car accident, this individual would be responsible for any medical bills you incurred up to this point, including x-rays, cast setting, and so forth, as well as any future treatment – such as physical therapy – you will require in the future.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages do not exist in every state. Essentially, punitive damages are extra funds that are awarded to the plaintiff in order to punish the defendant for his or her actions. You may be awarded for medical damages and emotional trauma, but the judge in such a case may believe that this is not adequate and will require the defendant to pay punitive damages. There are regulations in each state regarding how much can be paid in punitive damages; in some states, the punitive damages cannot exceed the amount paid out in other damages.

Income

Due to an accident, you may have lost out on receiving work. As such, you could very well be entitled to damages that compensate you for the income that you have lost out on during this time. Such damages can also compensate you to the tune of any further income you will lose in the future due to complications from your injury. This phenomenon is often known in legal arena's as "loss of earning capacity."

For more information, contact local professionals like Elliott & MacLean LLP.