If injured due to the negligence of another person, knowing how to proceed with a personal injury case is essential to recovering the compensation you deserve. However, when you incur a number of expenses as a result of this accident, you may not know what funds you can seek from the negligent party. Luckily, this blog can help you explore the different kinds of damages you can request during a personal injury lawsuit with the assistance of Houston personal injury attorneys.
What Are the Kinds of Compensation I Can Fight For?
In a personal injury lawsuit, the injured party (plaintiff) can sue the negligent party (the defendant) for compensation for the expenses they’ve endured from the accident. These damages include the following:
- General: General damages, also called non-economic damages, refer to injuries and issues that do not have a direct financial cost. For example, if you’ve endured pain and suffering, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life, or disfigurement, you can recover funds from the negligent party. However, as these do not have a direct cost associated with them, it is up to a jury to determine the amount of general damages awarded in a case. They will make this decision based on a number of factors, like the age of the victim, the severity of the damage, and any other circumstances that could impact the outcome.
- Special: Also referred to as economic damages, special damages are easily and clearly determined financial impacts. Often, these cover medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, prescription medication, and wages lost while off work healing from the injuries caused by the accident. These are calculated by adding up all the costs a victim has incurred as a result of the injuries.
- Punitive: Punitive damages are a special kind of compensation one can receive. Generally, these do not reflect damages suffered by the victim. Instead, they are ordered by the court as punishment against the defendant for particularly egregious or negligent actions. These also act as a deterrent to prevent the defendant or others from committing similar actions.
How Can I Help My Case?
If injured due to the negligence of another party, understanding how to proceed is vital. Unfortunately, you may make mistakes that put your case in jeopardy.
The first thing you should do after an accident is immediately seek medical treatment for the injuries you’ve sustained. Unfortunately, you may find that if you do not go to a doctor shortly after the accident, the defense can claim you failed to mitigate damages, reducing your award amount.
Similarly, you must keep all medical records, bills, and any other receipts you receive that correspond to the injuries you’ve suffered. These are invaluable to ensure you receive the special damages you are entitled to.
As you can see, navigating a personal injury case can be exceptionally difficult. However, letting an experienced legal team handle the complexities of your case allows you to focus on healing. Contact the dedicated Gonzalez Law Group today to learn how we will fight for the compensation you deserve.
