What types of damages are recoverable after a car accident?

Florida car accidents can be serious and may result in many damages. Even if you think you escaped uninjured and your vehicle suffered minor dents, things might be worse than you initially believe. If you were involved in a collision and want to file a lawsuit, you should know what types of damages are available.

What are the different types of damages in car accidents?

After a car accident, you can file a personal injury claim and recover two different types of damages: economic and non-economic. Economic damages are those you can put a price tag on while non-economic damages are not tangible and don’t have any specific costs associated with them.

In some, rare cases, punitive damages might also be available. Punitive damages are sometimes awarded to victims when the defendant’s actions leading up to the accident were so outrageous that the court decides they need to be punished. For example, a car crash occurs as a result of a driver being reckless and deliberately drag racing, resulting in catastrophic injuries to the people in the vehicle they hit.

What are the specific damages available?

Specifically, you can recover several types of economic and non-economic damages if your car accident claim is successful. Economic damages that are recoverable include the following:

• Medical expenses, including, your medical bills, hospital expenses, ambulance fees, physical or cognitive therapy, disability, reimbursement for medical devices and in-home services.
• Lost wages and lost earning potential if your injuries have prevented you from working.
• Repairs needed to your vehicle, rental car fees or expenses related to having to replace your totaled vehicle.

The following non-economic damages may be available in your claim as well:

• Pain and suffering or emotional distress as a result of the accident and your injuries.
• Loss of affection or companionship for accidents that prevent you or your spouse from engaging in physical intimacy or if your spouse dies.

Some of the damages suffered after a serious car accident are immeasurable. However, recovering compensation might be able to alleviate some of them.

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