Understanding the Types of Damages in a Truck Accident Case
Understanding the Types of Damages in a Truck Accident Case
An accident can come out of nowhere and stay with you the rest of your life. One moment you’re driving to work and the next you are trying to cope with the financial, physical, and psychological ramifications of a truck wreck.
If you have been injured in a truck wreck, it’s important to understand the two types of damages awarded in personal injury cases and how an attorney can help you receive the compensation you deserve.
Compensatory Damages
The first type of damages you may receive are compensatory damages, which are granted if the truck driver is found to be at-fault for the wreck. These types of awards serve to reimburse the victim for physical, financial, and emotional suffering — and can be broken down into two categories.
Economic Compensatory Damages
Economic compensatory damages are the most straightforward of your potential gains because they pertain to specific monetary losses experienced due to the wreck. Depending on the circumstances, the monetary compensation you could be entitled to may include any of the following.
Medical Treatments. This covers the cost of any emergency care or medications prescribed. Any long-term medical care or physical therapy is also included.
Loss of Income. If you are unable to work due to your injuries or mental state, you may be eligible to collect compensation for your loss of income. Between a lengthy hospital stay and recovery time, you could be looking at months of recoverable income.
Property Damages. Besides the damage to your car, property damages include items in your vehicle at the time of the incident — such as prescription glasses, electronics, or even ruined clothing.
Legal Fees. Any expenses related to the personal injury case itself fall under this category. Legal fees include not only the cost of legal counsel but also any court-related time out of work.
Essentially, economic damages cover any money lost due to your accident. Accurately calculating these losses is often a confusing and time-consuming process and requires an experienced personal injury lawyer to ensure maximum gains. All personal injury cases are aimed at collecting these economic compensatory damages, but a skilled attorney will also try to help you gain additional recompense — including non-economic damages.
Non-Economic Damages
Punitive Damages
The second main type of damages are punitive in nature. Rather than compensating victims for their financial, physical, and psychological losses, these damages are awarded to punish the at-fault party further for his or her behavior. Punitive damages are typically only awarded in cases involving malicious behavior or deliberate disregard for the well-being of others. These damages are also used to assign additional penalties to wealthy corporations to further discourage them from future negligent behavior.
Most personal injury cases involving truck wrecks pertain to driver negligence, not malicious behavior. A court is unlikely to award punitive damages to an accident case.
Morgan Adams: Personal Injury Lawyers
In the aftermath of a truck wreck, you may be faced with financial, physical, and psychological losses that leave you confused and struggling to determine your next steps. With decades of experience in personal injury and truck wreck cases, the attorneys at Truck Wreck Justice can determine the maximum recompense you may be entitled to in court, in addition to helping you collect on those damages earned after a successful ruling.
Please call 866-580-HURT (4878) today or complete this brief online form to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation today. During your appointment, we will discuss the particulars of your case, determine the validity of your claim, and suggest potential legal strategies.
The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.
Posted in Trucking Accident and tagged Compensatory Damages, Court Damages, Personal Injury, Personal Injury Lawyers, Punitive Damages, Truck Accident
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