When you work with a personal injury lawyer in Knoxville following an accident caused by someone else's negligence, their job is to secure damages for you to compensate you for things like medical expenses, loss of income, and your pain and suffering. This compensation is split into various categories - economic, non-economic, and, less commonly, punitive damages. Let's take a closer look at some of the differences between these types of damages that your personal injury lawyer in Knoxville might pursue on your behalf.
What Are Economic Damages?
Economic damages are what most people think about when it comes to the type of compensation their personal injury lawyer in Knoxville might request. These are tangible financial losses that are able to be quantified with a set monetary value. This type of compensation is designed to compensate victims for the financial burden of their injuries. Some examples of the kind of expenses a personal injury lawyer in Knoxville might include in their lawsuit are:
- Medical Expenses - Following your injury, you will likely have accumulated substantial hospital bills, medication costs, rehabilitation fees, and other healthcare-related costs.
- Lost Income - If you cannot work because of your injury or have had to take time off for media treatment, you may have a substantial loss of earnings during your recovery. You may also be able to claim for loss of future earnings if you are left with a long-term disability that prevents you from returning to work.
- Property Damage - If the accident damaged your property, your personal injury lawyer in Knoxville may include the cost of repairing or replacing it in your claim for damages. This can include vehicles or items such as cell phones that may be smashed in a trip or fall accident.
- Other Financial Losses - There may be other miscellaneous expenses caused by your accident, such as transport costs to receive medical care or modifying your home to accommodate your injuries.
- Future Medical Expenses - When claiming medical expenses, your personal injury lawyer in Knoxville should also include future medical costs for expected ongoing treatment and rehabilitation.
Understanding Non-Economic Damages
While the economic damages mentioned above will usually have a clear monetary value, non-economic damages are intangible and are not easily assigned a monetary value. However, they are available to compensate victims for the non-financial impact that their injuries may have on them. Some of the examples that your personal injury lawyer in Knoxville might pursue include the following:
- Pain & Suffering - It is common for non-economic damages to include some compensation for the pain and suffering endured due to the injuries the victim has suffered. This includes the immediate pain and any ongoing chronic pain and discomfort moving forward.
- Emotional Distress - It's not just the physical aspect of pain that needs to be taken into consideration. You may also request compensation for emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, sleep disturbance, and other emotional trauma caused by the accident.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life - A life-changing injury may mean that you are no longer able to participate in activities that you once enjoyed, such as hobbies and other activities. Non-economic damages can be claimed to compensate for this loss.
- Loss of Consortium - It is common for injuries to affect your relationships with your spouse or family. Your personal injury lawyer in Knoxville may claim loss of consortium on your behalf, which can cover the loss of companionship, affection, and intimacy as a result of the injuries suffered.
Calculating Personal Injury Damages
It is up to your personal injury lawyer in Knoxville to present evidence to support your claim for compensation. This will be reviewed, and the courts will take a number of different factors into account when determining how much you are owed. We have already covered the economic and non-economic damages that may be requested. These are collectively referred to as compensatory damages. In some cases, the courts may also decide to award punitive damages. This is reserved for cases that involve gross negligence or intentional harm. This type of compensation is designed as a punishment and a deterrent that discourages the defendant from repeating the behaviors that caused the accident. Punitive damages are awarded separately from the compensatory damages.
In conclusion, understanding the types of damages available in a personal injury case can help you navigate the legal process and maximize the compensation you are entitled to receive. Whether covering your economic losses like medical bills and lost income or securing non-economic damages for pain, suffering, and emotional distress, your personal injury lawyer in Knoxville will work diligently to ensure you are fairly compensated for the accident's impact on your life. In some instances, punitive damages may also be pursued to hold the negligent party accountable and deter future misconduct. By working with an experienced attorney, you can focus on recovery while they handle the legal complexities of your case.
--
Butler, Vines and Babb is a leading law firm in Knoxville, TN, with extensive litigation experience in Medical Malpractice Law, Birth Injury Law, Trucking Accident Law, Personal Injury Law, and Business Law. Contact us today at www.bvblaw.com or call 865-637-3531.
Please reference BV&B’s content disclaimer (located in this channel’s profile description) in regard to this shared content.