What Are the Common Types of Personal Injury Damages?

Personal Injury

personal injury damagesWhen someone is injured in an accident caused by the negligence or actions of another person, a personal injury lawyer can help recover compensation for victims.

Many different types of damages may be available to those who have been injured at the fault of another party. At Golitko & Daly, our attorneys help recover personal injury damages for clients in Indiana.

What Are Personal Injury Damages?

In a personal injury case, damages are the compensation provided to someone who has been injured by the actions of another person or entity.

Damages can be paid for something tangible, like medical bills or lost wages. These types of damages are called economic damages. Damages can also be paid for something that has no actual price, such as emotional distress. These types of damages are called non-economic damages.

Types of Personal Injury Damages

Whether economic or non-economic, there are several common types of damages people may seek in personal injury cases. The following damages are some of the most frequently pursued types for personal injury victims.

Lost Wages

Many people seeking personal injury damages miss work due to their injuries or are permanently unable to continue to work. In either case, injured parties may be able to recover lost wages and future lost wages through personal injury damages.

Injured parties may seek lost wages even if they used sick time or received vacation pay during their recovery.

Medical Bills

Depending on the extent of a person’s injuries, the costs associated with medical care can be high. Through a personal injury case, injured parties may recover money they’ve paid in the course of treating the injuries caused by the liable party.

If injuries are severe and require ongoing treatment, for example rehabilitation for a traumatic brain injury, damages may be paid for future medical costs.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering is a non-economic damage that has no set value but may still be sought in a personal injury case. These damages seek to compensate an injured party for emotional injuries, like fear, grief, and non-physical pain.

Because there is no set value to pain and suffering, compensation is sometimes calculated by multiplying actual financial losses by whatever number seems appropriate to the situation.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are not always awarded in personal injury cases. These damages are a means to punish the liable party for negligence or wrongful behavior that led to the injury.

Not all states allow for punitive damages. States that do, like Indiana, may have a maximum cap on how much may be awarded in punitive damages.

Contact the Personal Injury Attorneys of Golitko & Daly

If you or a loved one have been injured as a result of another person’s negligence, you may be able to recover damages through a personal injury lawsuit. To learn more about your options and discuss the details of your case, please call (317) 566-9600 to schedule a private consultation.