When injured in an accident, it can be incredibly overwhelming. From dealing with medical care and subsequent bills to taking time off work to heal, you’ll find that an accident can be just as financially damaging as it is physically harmful. However, it’s imperative to understand that you should not have to shoulder the burden in these matters. By filing a claim against the negligent party for their actions, you can seek damages to help compensate you for the financial losses you’ve suffered. If you’re unsure what damages you can recover, or why it’s critical to work with an Orange County injury lawyer, you’ll want to keep reading. The following blog explores what you must know about these matters to help you in the fight for justice.
What Types of Damages Can I Seek if I’m Injured?
If you are injured in an accident, whether a slip and fall, car collision, or pedestrian accident, you can generally seek two kinds of compensation. The first is economic damages. These represent actual, quantifiable financial losses you’ve endured because of the accident. This includes medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and the cost of prescriptions. Economic damages are typically easy to calculate as they represent real losses endured.
The second kind of compensation is non-economic damages. These represent more subjective losses, like pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and mental anguish. Unfortunately, these can be incredibly difficult to calculate, as they represent intangible losses. However, different methods are used to help determine the cost of these matters. One option is through the multiplier method, which seeks to assign a numerical value to the suffering endured by the injured party. The court will assign a number between 1.5 and 5, which is then multiplied by the economic damages to determine the value of their pain and suffering. The other option is the per diem method, which assigns a monetary value, like $100 per day, for each day the victim has to live with the conditions they endured during the accident.
Do I Need an Attorney For This?
Unfortunately, determining the compensation an injury victim is entitled to can be incredibly challenging, especially when trying to calculate non-economic damages. As such, it’s in your best interest to work with an experienced attorney if you’re hurt because of someone else’s negligent actions. An experienced lawyer can help calculate your losses and fight the defendant and their insurance company to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
The team at Tropical Injury Law Firm understands how overwhelming it can be to navigate the aftermath of an injury. That is why our team is dedicated to helping you through these difficult times. We can handle the legal complexities of your case so you can focus on healing and moving on to the next chapter of your life. If you’re hurt, don’t hesitate to contact our office today.
