7 Types of Compensatory Damages In a Personal Injury Lawsuit

If you file a personal injury lawsuit, your lawyer will talk to you about compensatory damages, which are damages that provide money to cover losses. These losses fit into these seven different types of damages you may receive after a personal injury lawsuit:

MEDICAL TREATMENT

The most common type of compensatory damages in a personal injury lawsuit are damages that cover the costs of medical treatment. This category includes not only hospital bills, but also bills from rehabilitation and additional care after the accident — both now and in the future.

LOSS OF INCOME

If your salary was impacted because of injuries suffered during an accident, you may receive damages to cover loss of earnings, as well as loss of earnings capacity in the future.

PROPERTY LOSS

If any items were damaged or lost during the accident– such jewelry, your vehicle, or personal technology devices — you can request compensation for these items in a personal injury lawsuit.

PAIN AND SUFFERING

One of the hardest to calculate personal injury lawsuit damages is pain and suffering. This category of damages provides compensation for physical pain and discomfort related to injuries caused by an accident.

EMOTIONAL DISTRESS

Emotional distress damages are similar to pain and suffering damages, and a personal injury lawsuit may lump physical and emotional suffering together. However, emotional distress damages are usually considered a separate category. This covers costs related to anxiety, mood changes, depression, and other symptoms, as well as any therapy or medication required to manage these conditions.

LOSS OF ENJOYMENT

If you enjoyed activities or hobbies before your accident that you can no longer participate in, you may be able to secure compensation for loss of enjoyment during your personal injury lawsuit.

LOSS OF CONSORTIUM

One of the least common types of damages determined in a personal injury lawsuit is loss of consortium damages. These award compensation for changes in one’s relationship with their legal spouse — for example, an inability to maintain a sexual relationship or to provide for their care-taking needs.

In some states, loss of consortium damages can also be applied to relationships with children. If you can no longer care for your child in the same way you could before an accident, this can be considered a loss of consortium in those states.

For a free consultation, contact Sloat & Nicholson at 1-800-873-3202.