If you were hurt in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be curious about the types of compensation you could obtain in a personal injury case. In personal injury lawsuits, settlements can take many forms but often include one or more of the following: economic, non-economic, and punitive damages.
What Is a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Personal injury lawsuits are a sort of civil case filed by a person who has been injured or wounded because of the negligence or wrongdoing of another party. These lawsuits can be launched against individuals, corporations, and government agencies.
Personal injury claims are one of the most popular civil court disputes in the United States. In 2017, more than 226,000 personal injury lawsuits were filed in federal court, according to data from the U.S. Courts. This number does not include the number of state court personal injury litigation.
3 Forms of Compensation In Personal Injury Lawsuit
- Economic Damages
Economic damages compensate the plaintiff for monetary losses caused by the defendant’s actions. This consists of medical expenses, lost pay, and property damage. In some situations, economic damages might also include future losses, such as the loss of earning potential if the plaintiff can’t return to work.
While economic losses are often rather easy to calculate, they can nonetheless greatly affect the overall damages granted in a personal injury claim. For this reason, it is necessary to engage with an expert personal injury attorney who can assist you in recovering the total amount of your economic damages.
- Non-Economic Damages
In a personal injury lawsuit, non-economic damages, sometimes known as “pain and suffering” damages, are given to the wounded plaintiff. These damages are not meant to recompense the plaintiff for financial losses but rather to address the bodily and mental injuries that the plaintiff has sustained because of the negligence of the defendant.
Non-economic damages can be tough to calculate, as they are not restricted to expenses like medical bills or lost income. Instead, they may include compensation for bodily pain and suffering, emotional discomfort, loss of pleasure, and more. In rare situations, punitive damages may also be offered to penalize the defendant for careless or intentional misbehaviour.
- Punitive Damages
In addition to compensatory damages, punitive damages are granted to a plaintiff under personal injury law. The purpose of punitive damages is to punish the defendant for their actions and dissuade others from participating in similar behaviour.
When deciding whether to impose punitive damages, a court will consider numerous criteria, including the severity of the defendant’s actions, the injury the plaintiff suffered, and the defendant’s wealth.
Punitive damages can be substantial, and they can have a big impact on a personal injury lawsuit. Assume you have been hurt due to the carelessness of another. In this situation, it is imperative that you speak with an expert personal injury lawyer to review your alternatives and determine whether or not filing a lawsuit is the best course of action.
Conclusion
If you were hurt due to someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible for compensation. The nature and amount of your compensation will depend on the specifics of your case. In personal injury lawsuits, medical expenditures, lost wages, and pain and suffering are frequent kinds of compensation. Contact Garcia and Phan at (714) 586-8298 to learn more about your rights.
