Nobody likes getting into a car accident. You may end up missing a lot of time from work, spend a significant amount of time at the doctor’s office, and even end up with long-lasting injuries.
But if you were involved in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, the law allows you to get compensation for your injuries. Below are some of the common types of damages you could recover from a car accident case:
Compensatory Damages
Compensatory damages are awarded to compensate victims for injuries and damages sustained from a car accident. The victim could be the driver, passenger, bicyclist, or pedestrian.
Common types of compensatory damages include but are not limited to:
- Vehicle damage
- Lost income
- Lost future earnings
- Medical expenses
In general, compensatory damages are intended to make the victim whole again for the losses suffered through no fault of his or her own.
Lost Wages and Time
If you had to miss work due to the accident, you should be compensated for it. California law allows the money lost due to injury or recovery to be included as part of the damages claim. In addition to current lost wages, potential future earnings can also be applied to your claim.
Our highly experienced lawyers at Mesriani Law Group can help identify all sources of possible damages to you get the maximum compensation you deserve.
Medical Expenses
After an accident, victims will likely have to seek medical care. Any physical or hospital bills related to the accident should be added to your claim. Other medical-related costs that can be added to your claim include:
- Medication
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Ambulance bills
If you suffered long-lasting or permanent injuries, an experienced car accident lawyer can advise you to seek compensation for future medical care. For example, your lawyer can include the cost to stay at a rehabilitation facility or the costs of in-home nursing care in your claim.
Pain and Suffering
For personal injury cases, California law permits victims to seek pain and suffering damages. Pain and suffering damages can be obtained as part of a broader classification generally referred to as general or non-economic damages. Common examples include:
- Emotional distress
- Mental distress
- Grief or depression
- Anxiety or embarrassment
- Inconvenience
- Pain
- Quality of life
- Physical limitations
Generally, there is no cap as to how much compensation a victim can get for pain and suffering. Pain and suffering compensation will vary according to the details of each case.
Punitive Damages
While compensatory damages are intended to award the victim, punitive damages are intended to punish the party at fault. Punitive damages are meant to deter the party at fault from acting similarly in the future.
A common example of when punitive damages would be awarded is for drunk driving or distracted driving. In these cases, the party at fault made a deliberate decision to engage in reckless behavior that could harm someone else.
Consult with a Personal Injury Lawyer Today
In Los Angeles, car accidents happen often. If you’re the victim of a car accident, having the best accident attorney by your side can get you the maximum compensation for your case. Let our expert personal injury attorneys at Mesriani Law Group can help you with the legalities of your case while you focus on your recovery. Contact our law firm today for a free consultation.
