Damages That May Be Included In Your Personal Injury Lawsuit

Duty of care refers to the responsibility that a person or company has to protect the safety of another individual. When an organization or an individual fails to fulfill that particular duty of care and someone is injured as a result of that negligence, then the injured individual has the right to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other related losses. A personal injury attorney can work with you to make certain that your settlement includes the damages that you are entitled to, which may include the following types of personal injury damages.

Special Compensatory Damages

The liable party may be held responsible for any monetary losses that are related to the accident, and these monetary accident-related losses are known as special compensatory damages. These damages vary from one individual and case to the next. These types of damages can include past and future lost wages, including long-term disability in the event that you cannot return to work due to the extent and severity of your injuries, as well as past and future medical expenses.

General Compensatory Damages

While special compensatory damages focus on monetary losses that an individual has incurred, general compensatory damages focus on non-monetary losses that an individual has suffered. General damages are often harder to quantify, but most personal injury claims have some level of general damages. General compensatory damages may include things like pain and suffering, loss of consortium, mental anguish, and reduced quality of life. 

Wrongful Death Damages 

In the event that the victim of an accident does not survive, then it may be possible for the family members or loved ones to file for compensation via a wrongful death claim. Wrongful death damages may include things like pain and suffering, funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial contribution, and loss of consortium and companionship.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are rare, and they are only allowed to be sought after in the event that the defendant's behavior was particularly reprehensible, despicable, etc. For instance, in some states, you may only be able to seek punitive damages if your injuries were the result of attempted murder, assault, or another form of malice.

If you would like to learn more about the damages that you can seek in a personal injury lawsuit because you or a loved one have been injured as a result of another person's recklessness or malice, contact law firm services in your area today.