Understanding Pain & Suffering Damages
The law assigns a value to your pain and suffering to determine how much your injuries are worth in monetary terms. This is called “pain and suffering damages.” The law also assigns a value to your lost wages and medical bills. These are called “economic damages.” In addition to these two damages, you may receive compensation for other losses if the same injury caused them. These include loss of consortium (i.e., loss of the love, affection and companionship of your spouse) or loss of enjoyment of life (i.e., loss of recreational activities). All these losses are considered “non-economic” damages.
All three types of damages must be determined by a jury; a judge or court clerk can assign them after hearing only one side’s version of events. Therefore, you need to hire an auto accident attorney in Sacramento who will fight to ensure that you receive fair compensation for the pain and suffering and what was taken from you by another person’s negligence or wrongdoing. Laskin Balma Attorneys at Law will fight for your rights and get you the maximum compensation allowed by law.
The amount of money your case may be worth depends on several factors, including:
- The type of injuries you have suffered- If you have suffered a severe injury, you can expect to receive a larger settlement than if your injuries were minor.
- Whether you were working at the time of the accident – If so, then your lost wages are a separate type of loss and thus another element in calculating the amount of money that may be awarded to you.
- Whether there was a passenger in your car who also suffered injuries – If so, then there will be additional money for this person’s pain and suffering and medical bills, which will also affect the amount of money awarded to compensate for your losses.
- The other driver’s insurance policy limits- The more coverage available through their insurance policy, the more likely they will offer significant compensation to settle your case quickly rather than face paying out large amounts later on at trial.
- The age and driving record of all drivers involved, including their history of accidents, traffic violations. – The older the driver and the more violations they have, the less likely they will be able to pay you much money to settle your case. The more at fault the other driver is, the more likely their insurance company will want to settle your case quickly to avoid paying out a large amount for the damages. Additionally, the more at fault the other driver is, the more likely it is that they will be found liable for your injuries and thus, the more compensation you may be able to recover.
Laskin Balma Attorneys at Law have the legal expertise you need. Contact our team today.