Car accidents are traumatic events that can result in physical, emotional, and financial damage. Depending on the accident’s severity, a lawsuit may be necessary to seek compensation for these damages. It is essential to understand the types of damages available when considering filing a car accident lawsuit.
Economic Damages
According to an expert Tampa automobile accident attorney, car accident lawsuits can provide economic damages for those impacted by a tragedy. These damages refer to measurable costs that can be clearly and objectively stated. These damages typically cover medical bills, lost wages, personal property damage, and any other monetary losses associated with the accident.
Depending on the situation, economic damages may also include future financial losses due to injury or disability. This can consist of an inability to return to the same type of job or require additional medical care in the future. While economic damages are difficult to calculate accurately, they can drastically help alleviate the financial hardships that arise from an unexpected car accident.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages refer to losses that cannot be quantified with a dollar amount. When pursuing a car accident lawsuit for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, the plaintiff must prove that their physical and emotional state has been diminished due to the defendant’s negligence. The amount of non-economic damages awarded in a car accident lawsuit will depend on the accident’s severity.
Other damages that may be available for pursuit include medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and any money spent on rehabilitation. If there is more than one driver at fault in an accident, then each party is responsible for the portion of non-economic damages for which they were found liable.
Depending on the specific situation, an individual fundraising website may have to be established to cover the non-economic damages incurred.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are not intended to compensate the victim for their loss but instead are meant to punish and deter particularly reckless or intentional behavior. If it can be shown that the driver acted with gross negligence or deliberate harm, punitive damages can play an essential role in helping victims receive the full measure of justice they deserve.
For example, suppose a driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. In that case, punitive damages may be awarded to deter similar behavior from occurring again. Punitive damages also allow plaintiffs who have been wronged by wildly outrageous conduct (such as drunk driving) to recover additional compensation beyond what would be available through economic and non-economic damages alone.
Exemplary Damages
Exemplary damages are similar to punitive ones but are usually only used when a defendant has maliciously acted while causing an automobile crash. This type of award is meant to punish bad actors and serve as a deterrent for others who might consider engaging in similar behavior.
Exemplary awards tend not to be very common since it’s difficult for plaintiffs to prove that defendants acted with malicious intent when causing an automobile crash; however, they can still be available under certain circumstances.
Nominal Damages
Nominal damages refer to small monetary awards when courts want to recognize that some harm occurred. For example, if someone rear-ended your car but there were no visible signs of damage or injury. You may still receive nominal damages just so that it can be legally recognized that something happened, even if it didn’t cause any real financial hardship or inconvenience for either party involved.
Final Thoughts
Damages are essential in car accident lawsuits because they help victims get back what they have lost due to another person’s negligence or intentional wrongdoing. Victims of car accidents need to understand the different types of damages available to get the compensation they deserve for their losses. A qualified professional, such as a Tampa automobile accident attorney, can help you assess what type and amount of damages you should seek in your car accident case so you can receive fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
