October 4, 2021
The Insurance Negotiation Process
If you or a family member have been injured, you are eligible for reimbursement from the negligent …
category: Illinois Personal Injury Lawyers,Personal Injuries
What are the categories of
personal injury damages?
Compensatory Damages
Compensatory damages are intended to replace, or else “compensate,” what you lost as a result of an accident and your injuries.
There are two kinds of compensatory damages that most personal injury lawsuits cover: economic and noneconomic.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the monetary amounts that can be calculated on paper as a result of an accident and the subsequent injury.
Some economic damages, such as medical costs or repairs made to a car, are easy to identify. However, many people do not know that other economic damages can be obtained in a lawsuit. For instance, if you had to retrofit your house to accommodate the fact that someone in your family had been paralyzed in an accident and had to use a wheelchair for the rest of their lives, you could recover those damages from a liable party.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are NOT financial sums that can be calculated on paper, but they seek to cover the intangible losses that the victims experience as a result of an accident and the subsequent injury.
These damages comprise qualities such as pain and suffering, grief, loss of companionship or support, and any decrease in the quality or enjoyment of life one might have after an accident. While these damages are unquestionably devastating and can have long-lasting effects, they do not have receipts or price tags. Having an expert attorney on your side is incredibly important when it comes to pursuing non-economic damages, as they can help you tell the story of what you went through after an accident.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages do not qualify under compensatory damages because they are not intended to cover the plaintiff’s costs and losses. Rather, they are designed to punish the defendant when their actions go beyond mere negligence and consist of intentional wrongdoing or gross carelessness. These cases also deter others from similar conduct in the future.
Punitive damages are rare in personal injury cases because you must prove that the defendant's conduct was egregious or intentional, which is a very high burden to meet and will require the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer. If proven, however, this is an extra financial settlement amount on top of your compensatory damages awarded in the case.
Contact A Southern Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer Today
The experienced Illinois personal injury lawyers at Hassakis & Hassakis have helped victims of accidents get the damages they deserve for more than 70 years. Our team of attorneys will help you identify all possible damages and get you the maximum possible compensation. Call us today at 800-553-3125 or talk to us online for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Down to earth, knowledgeable, handled my legal issue in a timely fashion. 😎
- William Rauen
category: Illinois Personal Injury Lawyers,Personal Injuries
What are the categories of
personal injury damages?
Compensatory Damages
Compensatory damages are intended to replace, or else “compensate,” what you lost as a result of an accident and your injuries.
There are two kinds of compensatory damages that most personal injury lawsuits cover: economic and noneconomic.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the monetary amounts that can be calculated on paper as a result of an accident and the subsequent injury.
Some economic damages, such as medical costs or repairs made to a car, are easy to identify. However, many people do not know that other economic damages can be obtained in a lawsuit. For instance, if you had to retrofit your house to accommodate the fact that someone in your family had been paralyzed in an accident and had to use a wheelchair for the rest of their lives, you could recover those damages from a liable party.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are NOT financial sums that can be calculated on paper, but they seek to cover the intangible losses that the victims experience as a result of an accident and the subsequent injury.
These damages comprise qualities such as pain and suffering, grief, loss of companionship or support, and any decrease in the quality or enjoyment of life one might have after an accident. While these damages are unquestionably devastating and can have long-lasting effects, they do not have receipts or price tags. Having an expert attorney on your side is incredibly important when it comes to pursuing non-economic damages, as they can help you tell the story of what you went through after an accident.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages do not qualify under compensatory damages because they are not intended to cover the plaintiff’s costs and losses. Rather, they are designed to punish the defendant when their actions go beyond mere negligence and consist of intentional wrongdoing or gross carelessness. These cases also deter others from similar conduct in the future.
Punitive damages are rare in personal injury cases because you must prove that the defendant's conduct was egregious or intentional, which is a very high burden to meet and will require the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer. If proven, however, this is an extra financial settlement amount on top of your compensatory damages awarded in the case.
Contact A Southern Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer Today
The experienced Illinois personal injury lawyers at Hassakis & Hassakis have helped victims of accidents get the damages they deserve for more than 70 years. Our team of attorneys will help you identify all possible damages and get you the maximum possible compensation. Call us today at 800-553-3125 or talk to us online for a free, no-obligation consultation.
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