If you were involved in a car accident and you suffered serious injuries as a result, you may be looking to recover damages from the person or entity responsible for the collision. Compensation can come in many forms, and the types that you can ultimately pursue will vary considerably due to factors such as the seriousness of your injuries, the length of time they may impact you and any effect on your ability to earn income. The following are some of the types of compensation you may be able to seek following your accident.
Compensation for medical expenditures
Depending on the details of your accident, you may need only minimal medical treatment, or you may require a long-term hospitalization, multiple surgeries or continuing care for the remainder of your life. Damages for medical expenditures may cover any number of areas, including hospital stays, surgical fees, in-home medical care or consultations with specialists. This type of compensation may also cover the cost of crutches, a wheelchair or other accessories that you may need as a result of your injuries, or it may include damages for disfigurement, facial reconstruction or permanent disability.
Compensation for lost wages
Your injuries may prove severe enough that they prevent you from being able to fulfill your typical job duties, or they may require considerable care that keeps you physically out of your office or place of business. Compensation for lost wages is intended to help you if you are no longer able to provide for yourself or your family in the manner you once did because of injuries sustained in your accident.
Compensation for pain and suffering
While compensation for medical expenditures helps offset the costs of the bills themselves, compensation for pain and suffering is designed to compensate you in areas that cannot be easily quantified. Maybe you suffer back pain on a daily basis because of the injuries you experienced, or perhaps you now have severe anxiety and emotional distress every time you get behind the wheel. The amount of pain and suffering compensation you may receive will vary broadly based on factors such as how long you are expected to experience pain and how much it impacts your ability to enjoy life.
These are some of the more common types of compensation accident victims pursue following crashes. If you are suffering because of injuries stemming from an accident you believe was someone else's fault, you may consider getting in touch with a lawyer.