You can seek compensation for damages suffered in a car accident. Two of the most common areas are medical bills and lost wages, but there are many other areas to consider, such as pain and suffering, loss of consortium, emotional trauma and more.
One key thing to remember is that there are both short-term and long-term damages, and you should try to include them all in any potential settlement. Short-term damages may include emergency medical treatment, transportation to the hospital and lost wages while you are either in the hospital or recovering at home.
Long-term expenses
But even if those short-term expenses are covered, you do not want to forget about your long-term damages. These are expenses that go far beyond your immediate costs.
For example, say that you have suffered a spinal cord injury. You are going to need in-home care, physical rehabilitation, medication, surgery, physical therapy and many other medical services that go beyond emergency treatment. Some SCIs can cost over $100,000 annually.
At the same time, even if you can eventually return to work in some capacity, you may be able to seek compensation for lost future wages or a reduced earning capacity. If you have a permanent injury or long-term disability that is going to change how much you can earn, and you deserve compensation for that reduction in wages that you and your family previously expected.
The complexities of a personal injury case
Seeking full compensation can be complicated. If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, it can help to work with an experienced personal injury attorney.