Every day, people get into accidents. They may slip and fall in a grocery store. They may take their medicine and suffer serious side effects. Some are injured by their doctor during surgery. Many get into serious car accidents and see their lives changed forever.
While many personal injury cases are minor and resolve themselves quickly, some go on for many years—or even the rest of a person’s life. A person may be unable to work. Because they cannot earn income, they may be unable to pay their medical bills. This can cause a chain of events that can lead to bankruptcy and even homelessness.
When someone’s negligence might have caused you to suffer a personal injury, you could recover compensation through the legal system. Depending on the circumstances of the accident and the severity of the injuries you suffer, you could recover multiple types of compensation from the liable party. Read on to learn more about the various types of personal injury compensation you can expect to receive.
Types of Compensatory Damages
If you were injured in an accident, there are many types of compensation you might receive. They include:
Medical bills
This may include any type of treatment you received for your injuries, including doctor’s visits, medications, hospitalization, surgeries, tests, and medical devices.
Property damage
If you were involved in a car accident and your vehicle was totaled, you could receive compensation for your car and anything else damaged in the crash.
Loss of income
If the injuries you suffered in the accident made it so you can no longer work, you can receive compensation for this loss of income.
Pain and suffering
You can receive compensation for the pain and suffering you suffered and will continue to suffer based on the injuries you sustained in the accident.
Loss of enjoyment of life
If you can no longer engage in the activities you once enjoyed due to your injuries, you can receive compensation.
Loss of consortium
If your injuries have affected your relationship with your spouse—such as a lack of sexual relationship—your spouse can file a claim for loss of consortium and he or she can receive compensation for the loss
Emotional distress
If your accident was traumatic and caused post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety or sleep issues, you may be able to receive compensation.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are a different type of compensation an injured person can receive in a personal injury case. These do not compensate a victim for injuries. Instead, they serve to punish the liable party for gross negligence.
Punitive damages are not available in every personal injury case. They are rare and typically come up in cases in which a person’s reckless behavior proves to be extremely harmful. For example, huge corporations that continue to sell a drug or product even though it is proven to cause serious injuries or death might be ordered to pay millions of dollars in punitive damages.
Calculating Pain and Suffering
One of the most common personal injury damages is pain and suffering. Pain and suffering refers to a loss of happiness, comfort and opportunity a person loses after an accident. Victims can be compensated for the pain and suffering they endure because of an accident. Placing a value on such a concept can be difficult.
Some companies offer formulas that they use that you can use to get a very rough estimate of the compensation you may receive. However, to be clear, there is zero guarantee that the formula’s result is an accurate representation of what you will collect for your case. Your best bet is to meet with a personal injury lawyer who can help you get the highest amount of compensation possible for your damages.
Get Legal Help from a Brooklyn Personal Injury Lawyer
An accident of any kind can affect your life for many years. In severe cases, an accident can cause a lifetime of pain or even lead to death. If your accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, it is important that you seek legal help, so you can understand your rights to compensation.
There are many types of personal injury compensation available. You may not be aware of many of them. That is why it is important to choose an aggressive lawyer who will fight for you and help you obtain the compensation you need to be made whole again. The Law Office of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum can help. Contact our Brooklyn office today by calling (718) 237-5586.
