Damages in Personal Injury Cases
Millions of people suffer personal injuries each year. Sadly, many of these injuries could have been prevented, had involved parties practiced more responsible behavior. If personal injury is the result of another person or party’s reckless or negligent actions, the victim has the right to file a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for damages.
The personal injury attorneys at Froerer & Miles consider all areas of loss when seeking financial compensation for clients from Ogden, UT, and Layton, UT. Here, we go over potential types of damages in personal injury cases.
Medical Expenses
The bulk of financial compensation awarded in a personal injury case is often related to medical expenses. It can be costly to treat accident injuries. Depending on the extent of injuries, our clients may require medical care for an extended period of time or for the rest of their lives.
Plaintiffs filing a personal injury lawsuit can seek compensation for all manner of medical expenses related to accident injuries, including:
- Hospitalization costs
- Expense of past medical treatment
- Cost of anticipated future medical treatment
- Cost of necessary medical equipment or devices (i.e. a wheelchair)
- Expenses for rehabilitation or physical therapy
- Medication costs
Lost Wages
Lost wages are another common area of compensation in a personal injury lawsuit. Injury victims are likely to require time off of work as they undergo treatment for their injuries. The more severe injuries are, the longer it is before victims can return to work. Our attorneys will consider any lost pay when seeking financial compensation for our clients.
In some cases, injuries may leave individuals unable to return to their previous line of work or unable to return to work at all. In these situations, we will seek compensation for a loss of wage-earning potential. This type of damage is meant to cover financial losses related to an inability to earn an income, or an inability to earn the same income that was earned prior to the injury.
Pain and Suffering
Although emotional suffering is not a financial source of loss, it is a very real damage for personal injury victims. It is not easy to put a price tag on pain and suffering, but it is important to acknowledge this source of loss for our clients by seeking appropriate financial compensation.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are not commonly sought in personal injury lawsuits. However, if the defendant exhibited extreme reckless or negligent behavior, punitive damages may be appropriate. Punitive damages are unique from other personal injury damages because they are not linked to the plaintiff’s losses. Instead, punitive damages serve as a direct punishment for the defendant, and are meant to dissuade similar behavior in the future.
Contact Us
If you have been injured in an accident and are considering filing a personal injury lawsuit, the attorneys at Froerer & Miles can provide the legal expertise you need. To discuss your case in further detail and learn about the financial compensation you may be due, send us a message at your earliest convenience or call (801) 621-2690.
