Many people across the country drive their vehicles on a daily basis to get to and from school, work, or complete other tasks around their town. While driving is typically safe, accidents can happen. Unfortunately, if you are involved in an accident, you can experience a variety of setbacks including vehicle damage, personal injuries, and even lost wages.
After a car accident, make sure to seek medical attention to make sure you are safe and to get any injuries diagnosed. Making sure that your physical and mental wellbeing is critical to begin the road to recovery from your accident.
Once you are more recovered, you will want to make sure that you seek out a car accident lawyer for legal consultation. That way, you can go over your case, fill in any gaps that may be present, and seek compensation ranging from medical bills to lost wages. A skilled car accident lawyer should ensure that their client has as much information and their bases covered throughout the investigation into the car accident.
If you have incurred a loss during a car accident in which you were not at fault, seeking remedies and economic damages is a good idea. There are many types of economic damages that you could receive through a car accident lawsuit. These are typically broken down into two groups, which are compensatory and punitive damages.
Compensatory Damages
The most common type of economic damages that can be received through a car accident lawsuit are compensatory damages. These are damages that are paid from the negligent or at-fault party to the party that suffered the loss. There are several forms of compensatory damage to consider.
Damage to Vehicle
The most common type of compensatory damage that you can receive from a car accident lawsuit is related to damage to your vehicle. If another party was at fault and your vehicle was damaged, they are obligated to pay for the repair or replacement of it. These can include costs associated with labor, part replacement, or even replacing the vehicle entirely if the repairs are expected to exceed the replacement value. You may also be able to collect costs associated with towing the vehicle, renting a car until the repairs are complete, or using ride share of public transportation.
Medical Bills
In some situations, you may be injured and need to receive medical attention. If this is the case for you, the costs of seeing a doctor, going to the emergency room, and paying for any procedure or therapy can add up quickly. The negligent party in this situation is obligated to cover the costs that are incurred as a result of the injuries you sustained in an accident.
Lost Wages
If the injuries sustained in the accident are bad enough, it can impact your ability to continue to work. When this happens, you may lose your job or go a period of time in which you are not paid. These lost wages can lead to a significant financial setback that can be hard to get out of. If you are not able to work for a long time into the future, an expert may be needed to estimate what the total lost wages will be. Fortunately, lost wages can be included as compensatory damages.
Pain and Suffering
The fourth form of compensatory damages that could be awarded in a car accident lawsuit can include pain and suffering. While this is less common to be awarded in car accident lawsuits as part of compensatory damages, if you do experience a significant change in your life due to the accident or have to manage excessive pain, you could receive additional compensation. Placing a specific compensation amount on your pain and suffering can be difficult and will vary considerably from one case to the next.
Punitive Damages
Another form of damage that you could receive in a car accident case is punitive damages. These types of damages are designed to punish the guilty party in a variety of situations. While punitive damages are possible to be received in some states, it is unlikely that you will receive them in a car accident lawsuit as they tend to only be awarded in cases of significant negligence. As most car accidents involve simple mistakes and are typically handled outside of the courtroom, punitive damages are typically not considered.
However, if there was a significant amount of negligence that led to the accident, you could be awarded additional damages. Some situations that could result in gross negligence and punitive damages include if the other driver was reckless when behind the wheel, was in violation of DUI laws, or did something else that was clearly negligent and put all other drivers at risk. The level of punitive damages that are awarded will also vary based on different factors and the judgment of the judge overseeing the case.
If you are involved in a car accident that results in damages, it is important that you have an attorney by your side. A car accident attorney will be able to help you navigate your case and make sure that every inch of the accident is covered. They will also fight for the compensation that you deserve ranging from medical bills to lost wages. Damages can be either punitive or compensatory which have different meanings and situations that are applicable to them.
A skilled Buffalo car accident attorney can offer a lot of support that can help you receive the economic consideration that you are rightfully entitled to following any type of accident. That way, you can seek compensation for pain and suffering that you experienced as a result of your accident. They will be able to provide you with a full consultation on your case and help you file a claim with the insurance companies or seek further remedies from the other party involved in the accident. Make sure to go online to yourbuffalolawyer.com to reach out for legal help. This will help ensure that your rights are properly represented and that you receive a fair settlement.
