Car accident medical expenses begin to pile up quickly, even if you have health insurance. Your cost share and copayments can be considerable. Then, you have the added burden of being unable to work after your car accident if you have been seriously injured. Sometimes, the first questions clients ask is what they can be compensated for and how much they can get in a car accident settlement. You may be entitled to far more than you think, and a car accident lawyer could help you maximize your financial recovery.
There are two categories of damages:
- Economic damages compensate you for your actual financial losses related to your car accident.
- Non-economic damages are intended to pay you for all the forms of discomfort that you have had to bear.
Economic damages will include the following:
- Medical expenses.
- Lost wages, either for time you missed from work or the lessening of your earnings capacity.
- Property damage.
Non-economic damages will cover:
- Pain and suffering.
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
- Scarring and disfigurement.
- Embarrassment and humiliation.
- Emotional distress.
It Is Not Always Easy to Prove Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages present a particular challenge for any car accident claimant. These damages are inherently subjective because they are based on your experience. However, the insurance company will try to objectively value your non-economic damages based on what they believe after looking at your medical records.
Your lawyer will need to tell your story and how you have been affected personally by your car accident injuries. Not every car accident victim responds the same way to similar injuries. You could have been particularly susceptible to more severe injuries, whether they are physical or emotional. Your attorney can reject the settlement offer and seek more if the “objective” formula does not pay you sufficient compensation.
Punitive Damages
Generally, you should not expect to receive punitive damages in a car accident case. First, in most cases, reach a settlement agreement, and an insurance company will not pay you these damages alone. Second, punitive damages are reserved for extreme examples of negligence or recklessness not present in the standard car accident case.
Challenges in Quantifying and Proving Your Car Accident Damages
Your car accident damages compensate you for both the past and the future. You may be wondering how you are expected to know your needs in the future. That is one of the challenges facing car accident victims. Your attorney would need to review your medical records and your financial situation to estimate what you may need now and years from now.
You need legal counsel to know how much your claim is worth. Otherwise, you may be vulnerable and end up accepting less than you deserve because you never knew the true value of your claim.
Virginia Beach Car Accident Lawyers at Anchor Legal Group, PLLC Help Injured Clients
If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash, contact our Virginia Beach car accident lawyers at Anchor Legal Group, PLLC to learn more about your legal rights. During your free initial consultation, we can explain your case and the legal process. Call us at 757-LAW-0000 or complete our online form. Located in Virginia Beach, we serve clients in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Newport News, Hampton, Williamsburg, and Eastern Shore, Virginia.