A car accident or other incident that has caused injury due to the negligence of another will leave the victim with economic and non-economic damages or rather, monetary damages (economic) and non-monetary damages that are often referred to as pain and suffering for which there is no clear cut numerical value (non-economic).
Economic Damages
Economic damages are easy to calculate for the most part – they include those monetary costs the victim has incurred or lost as a result of an accident, such as:
- Medical Bills
- Lost Wages;
- Replacing or repairing damaged property
- Moving costs
- Hotel costs
- Parking costs when you attend doctor’s visits
- Hiring a maid service because you can no longer clean, etc.
A person injured in an accident should keep an accurate record of all monetary expenditures incurred as a result of their accident.
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Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are harder to calculate but they are oftentimes the bulk of the pain and suffering one experiences after a traumatic event is thrust into their life.
When you’ve been injured in an accident, you want to be sure to tell your doctor about any new fears you have developed as a result of an accident. For example, if you were injured in an automobile accident and develop a fear of driving – tell your doctor; if you become depressed, tell your doctor. Other non-economic damages include:
- Loss of enjoyment of activities in your daily life such as gardening, hanging out with friends, being unable to pick up your new baby
- Being unable to attend your favorite yoga class that you once attended religiously
- Missing golf dates
- Being unable to be intimate with your partner
- Feeling embarrassed in public because of a disfigurement, among other issues.
After an injury, it is important to speak candidly with your doctor to make sure your medical record reflects the impact of your injury on life. In addition to being open with your doctor, your attorney, who will advocate on your behalf with the insurance company, lawyers, and possibly a jury, must also know of all your ailments to ensure the proper valuation of your case.
At West Law Firm, we become a part of our client’s lives so that we can get to know them. We take the time to learn about their lives before the accident and to learn about what’s left after the accident. In this way, we can properly value each client’s injuries, both seen and unseen, and obtain fair compensation.
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