The primary purpose of a personal injury case is to get compensation for any loss suffered as a result of the accident. Basically, the compensation is expected to be from the parties that either contributed to the accident or caused it directly. In legal language, the compensation is referred to as damages.
In any personal injury case, damages awarded are in two main categories: compensatory damages and punitive damages. Let’s take a look at both.
Compensatory Damages
Many types of damages lie in this category. Just as the name suggests, all damages in this category are meant to compensate or reimburse you for the loss or harm caused by the injury. These types of damages are paid to you as the plaintiff in monetary form by parties whose negligence or direct involvement led to the accident. All physical, mental or psychological loss incurred is reasonably quantified. It can either be awarded in court or through a settlement negotiation between you and the defendants. Common types of compensations in this category include:
- Medical reimbursement compensates all direct and indirect medical costs incurred by you as a result of the accident. It covers the already incurred cost as well as payment for any medical care that you will require in future.
- Income compensation is a compensation for all negative impacts on your income during and after the accident.
- Property loss covers any property lost or damaged during the accident that led to your injury. It targets replacement or repair of the property depending on the extent of their damage.
- Pain and suffering compensates you for all psychological and physical torment you suffered during and after the injury.
- Mental anguish or emotional distress includes sexual dysfunction, anxiety or sleep loss. In this case, such damage will be awarded.
- Loss of companionship or consortium targets how the injury negatively impact your relationship, marriage and parenthood. It compensates you for loss of your spouse or sexual relationship. For parenthood, it targets the impact on your parent-child relationship.
Punitive Compensation
These types of damages are awarded to punish the defendant for any irresponsible, reprehensible or despicable acts and fraud. Examples of such acts are wrongful prescriptions, sexual assault or sale of defective products that negatively impacted the plaintiff.
Getting the compensation you ask for in your personal injury case is not guaranteed. That is why getting a strong and experienced attorney is very necessary. One place you can be guaranteed of getting such an attorney is Stockard, Johnston, Brown, Netardus & Doyle, P.C. in Amarillo, Texas. Contact us with questions now.