The Most Common Types of Damages in Personal Injury Claims

After you receive injuries, you may be experiencing debilitating pain and difficulty performing average day-to-day tasks. There are several other types of damages you may have to endure, which aren’t limited to physical injuries. For example, emotional turmoil is common personal injury damage that makes up most of the settlement amount. A few others you might encounter are property damage and wage loss. If you are a survivor of a wrongful death victim, you will notice exceedingly more damages than most personal injury cases.

Physical Damage

This is economic damage that results in costly medical bills. Your physical damages include any wounds such as broken bones, head injuries, torn tendons and ligaments, cuts, bruises, burns, and more. Your damages can include surgery, medical lab tests, imaging scans, physical therapy, chiropractic medicine, prescription medicine, and other forms of medical and therapeutic treatment.

Property Damage

Not all personal injury claims result in property damage, but they can happen in motor vehicle accidents and other unique cases. Your car can be claimed as property damage, especially if your insurance company doesn’t cover the total cost of the damages. If your land or home were destroyed because of someone else’s mistakes, this can be included in a personal injury claim if it is also linked to your wounds. For example, a wild animal could have gotten loose and ruined property in your home while also inflicting wounds.

Income Loss

Some injuries are so severe that they prevent you from performing your routine work. When you have to take time off from work due to your wounds, this income loss can also be claimed as damages. This includes future income loss that can occur over weeks and months while you recover from your injuries. If you have permanently lost the ability to perform a role because of your injury, you can find out from your attorney if your damages can include job training and placement.

Pain and Suffering

Unlike the other damages listed previously, pain and suffering is a non-economic form of damages that are just as important to claim. You will want to inform your Kansas City personal injury lawyer about your experience and the negative emotions you encountered. PTSD, for example, is an extreme emotional response to a horrific personal injury. You might also be feeling grief, guilt, shame, anxiety, depression, and other abnormal emotions because of your personal injury.

Damages Unique to Wrongful Death

If you are the surviving family member of a wrongful death victim, you can also claim non-economic damages such as loss of consortium, companionship, guardianship, and other relationship bonds you will miss. Economic damages can include burial and funeral expenses, medical bills, wage loss, lost earning capacity, and more. The pain and suffering of the victim can also be included if the family members were aware of their saddening experiences before their passing.

More Information on Damages That You Can Claim in a Personal Injury Case

If for some reason, the other party intentionally or were grossly negligent when they caused you your injury, they can be charged with punitive damages. However, this is a rare case and requires more in-depth evidence. You can find out more information about the damages you can claim from a personal injury attorney.