A car accident can leave you feeling shaken, scared, and confused about what to do next. Aside from the physical injuries you may have sustained in the crash, car accidents can also leave an emotional toll, especially if you believe that another driver’s negligence or carelessness caused the accident. To get through this challenging time, understand your rights and how you can file an insurance claim after an accident of this kind. To help you with your claim, here are the five types of damages you can claim after a car accident.
1. Medical Expenses
Medical expenses are also known as past medical expenses or medical bills. The responsible party should compensate for any money you have spent on medical treatment to alleviate your accident-related injuries. If, for example, you had to pay $500 for an MRI because of whiplash, and your insurance company paid only $200 for it, you’re entitled to recover that $300 from whoever was at fault.
Note: if outstanding medical bills are still due after settlement/judgment, you can usually collect them by filing a separate lawsuit against whoever was at fault. However, it’s always best to consult with a lawyer before taking legal action. You can contact kentuckycourage.com/lexington/car-accident-attorneys/ for a professional legal representation and help you pursue total compensation for your medical expenses.
2. Property Damage
The most prominent types of damage come from damaged property—your car and any objects inside it. Property damage claims often compensate with replacement value (purchase price) or actual cash value (depreciated cost). It doesn’t matter which you choose, but it can impact your final payout.
Plus, choosing actual cash value may reduce your payout if your vehicle has depreciated rapidly over time. An experienced car accident attorney will be able to advise you on what is best for your situation and help you pursue your claim by all means legally possible.
3. Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering type of damage relates to your physical and emotional distress over your injuries. It’s different from medical damages or payments for hospital bills and other out-of-pocket expenses you had to pay due to an accident. Pain and suffering also cover any issues that may have arisen because you can no longer do certain activities—you might not be able to play with your kids as much anymore.
It isn’t easy to quantify pain and suffering in court, but it’s essential to seek legal advice on how best to proceed. Your lawyer will help explain what pain and suffering damages are available in your case and how they could affect your settlement.
4. Lost Wages
If you sufferinjuries in an accident, you may lose some or all of your ability to work. You can calculate lost wages by applying a multiplier (usually two times your average weekly earnings) to your projected income for that week. Note how many hours you were on your work schedule and how many hours you worked each day before leaving.
The information on work schedule is vital when determining how much money your lost wages are worth. The compensation for lost wages will vary depending on your state. However, it’s crucial to prove your inability to work, which means documenting everything from doctor visits to time off from work. You can talk with a car accident lawyer near you for legal assistance and guidance.
5. Emotional Distress
If you are involved in an accident that was not your fault, and it has left you feeling stressed, anxious, or upset, you can claim emotional distress. It refers to your personal experience. However, to be eligible for compensation for emotional distress, you need to have suffered from injuries such as whiplash or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
A doctor usually diagnoses PTSD after you’ve experienced symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and panic attacks. This type of injury often takes time to surface. So, it is worth seeking medical help immediately after an accident if you are concerned about PTSD developing later on. Emotional distress damages depend on how much your life has changed since being involved in an accident; if there is no change, then there will be no financial award either.
Conclusion
When considering claiming damages after an accident, you have many different options. It is essential to know what kind of damages are available and how they work to your advantage. If you’ve suffered injuries in an accident or know someone who has, don’t hesitate to contact an experienced car accident attorney. They can help answer any questions and ensure you receive all your just compensation.
