What are the different types of damages in a personal injury case?

What are the different types of damages in a personal injury case?
By Jamal F. Allen

First, we know no amount of money can pay for the pain and suffering of an injury or even the loss of an individual due to a personal injury accident. But when involved in a personal injury accident, monetary compensation can be recovered that can help ease other stresses in your life. This monetary compensation is often referred to as damages, which amounts to the physical, mental and monetary losses you have incurred, due to the injury.

Damages are paid out by the insurance of the individual or the company responsible for the accident. The most common types of damages include compensatory and punitive damages.

Compensatory damages are likely what first comes to mind when you think of a personal injury claim; economic reimbursement for expenses directly caused by the personal injury accident. Medical expenses and wages are the most common. Compensatory damages, however, can also include harder-to-quantify monetary reimbursement such as the pain and suffering caused by an accident and emotional distress.

Punitive damages are not awarded in every case; they are put forth by the court as a sort of punishment for a defendant who has been extremely negligent. They are also intended to deter others from such bad behavior and teach the defendant a lesson. Not all states allow punitive damages to be collected in a personal injury case but the state of Arizona does. Many states also have a cap on the maximum amount that can be awarded for a personal injury claim but Arizona does not have any such limit.

If you’ve been involved in a personal injury accident, be sure to call an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you recover the damages you are entitled to.

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