Types of Compensatory Damages in Personal Injury Cases

Injuries can impact your life in a multitude of ways. When you’ve been injured in an accident, you may have to take time off from work while you recover and you may be unable to do the things you do the things that normally make you happy. You may need someone to help you around the house or provide in-home medical care. In severe cases, you might never be able to fully recover from your injuries.

With all the ways you can potentially be impacted by an injury, you might be wondering about which types of damages you can be compensated for through a lawsuit. These types of damages are known as compensatory damages.

Medical Expenses

Medical expenses are one of the biggest types of damages pursued in personal injury cases. Even a relatively minor injury can result in significant medical bills and in many cases, the costs of initial medical treatment are just the beginning. In cases involving severe injuries, there may be a need for ongoing medical treatment for a while after the accident. If you file a personal injury lawsuit, you can not only recover damages for your initial medical treatment, you can also recover the costs of future medical care.

Lost Income

It takes time to recover after an accident and very often, that means a person is unable to work for a while after being injured. If an injury impacts your ability to earn a living, you can recover the income you’ve lost during your recovery. In cases when an injury renders you unable to return to work or unable to return to the same type of work you had been doing before the accident, a lawyer can help you recover damages for lost future earnings.

Pain and Suffering

Not all types of compensatory damages are tied to a specific dollar amount. The pain associated with an injury can be one of the most difficult things to cope with. But just because you don’t receive a bill that places a quantifiable value on your pain and suffering, that doesn’t mean you aren’t able to recover damages for it.

Household Assistance

As you recover from an accident, you might need some extra help with your general household chores and errands. This can include things like taking care of a pet, mowing the lawn, cleaning up around the house, or picking up some groceries. If you needed to hire someone to help with these sorts of things while you recover, you can recover the costs associated with that in your lawsuit.

Emotional Distress

Injuries aren’t just physically painful, they can also be very traumatic psychologically. For example, if a person is seriously injured by a dog bite, they might develop a strong fear of dogs that lasts for the rest of their lives. It’s very common for people who have been injured in accidents to struggle with problems like anxiety, PTSD, or depression afterward and need the help of a psychologist or counselor to help with their recovery.

These are just a few types of damages you can potentially recover when making a personal injury lawsuit. A personal injury lawyer can tell you more about these and other types of damages you may be entitled to. At Goodwin & Scieszka, you’ll be able to get the help of a personal injury lawyer experienced in helping accident victims in the state of Michigan. We handle a wide range of personal injury cases, including car accidents, slip and fall accidents, motorcycle accidents, dog bites, and more. Contact us today for help with your case.