Accidents are inevitable as you live your life. This is true even if you are as careful and safe as possible in everything you do, as you cannot control the actions of others. If you are unfortunate enough to be injured in an accident, then you likely have questions you need to be answered and information you need to know about what your rights and options are.
When an accident occurs, some victims are lucky to only come away with some minor scrapes and bruises, but others are not as lucky and end up suffering serious and sometimes life-changing injuries. In the worst of accidents, victims do not survive and leave behind devastated family members.
Fortunately, the law provides a way for injured victims to be compensated for their injuries through a personal injury claim. Before being compensated for injuries sustained, however, the victim seeking compensation must show that the person against whom the claim is filed was negligent in causing the accident.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by a negligent person or entity, our Spaulding personal injury lawyers are here to help you in obtaining the full compensation you deserve.
Cases We Handle
We have experience handling different types of personal injury cases, including:
- Auto Accidents
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Boating Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Back and Neck Injury
- Brain Injury
- Slip and Falls
- MARTA Accidents
- Product Liability
- Dog Bites
- Lyft and Uber Accidents
- Wrongful Death
Potential Damages Available in Personal Injury Cases
When you have been injured in an accident through the fault of someone or an entity that was negligent, the law provides that you receive compensation in the form of what is known as “damages.” This is the requirement that the person whose negligence resulted in your injury must compensate you in monetary terms to put you financially in the same position you would be in had the accident not occurred.
There are different types of damages, and the recovery available in each case will vary depending on the accident victim’s losses.
Economic Damages
Economic damages serve to cover all out-of-pocket costs the person incurred because of the accident. Such damages might include:
- Medical Bills – Injury victims should have all expenses related to medical treatment paid for them – including costs stemming from diagnosis, hospitalization, surgery, doctor visits, and rehabilitation. You can also seek compensation for any future treatment that medical professionals think that you need, especially if you suffered lasting impairments due to your injuries.
- Lost Earnings – Injuries commonly require people to miss work, which can mean they lose a significant amount of income. This can put a household in financial hardship and cause bills to pile up. Injury victims can seek compensation for all the earnings they lost because of their injuries, and this is also true for self-employed individuals. An attorney can help you provide evidence of your lost income as part of your claim.
- Lost Earning Capacity – Some injuries result in permanent disabilities and impairments that prevent a victim from ever working again – or cause them to seek lower-paying work. An injured victim who will earn less or rely on disability benefits can seek and receive monetary compensation for the amount they would have earned but for the injuries’ lasting impact. This calculation often requires occupational or financial expert analysis and testimony.
- Property Damage. Property damage can happen to your vehicle that was involved in the accident, as well as any property that was inside the vehicle and was damaged or rendered useless during the accident. While these costs might not be as high as injury-related losses, they are still costly and compensable in an injury claim.
Non-economic Damages
Non-economic damages are not based on financial losses, but instead the intangible effects of an injury on a victim’s life. Non-economic damages can vary widely and might include some or all of the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Loss of companionship or consortium
Because there are no financial records to prove non-economic losses, it is critical to have an experienced Grayson personal injury lawyer handling these calculations.
Punitive Damages
In addition to economic and non-economic damages, a person who has been injured in an accident may at times be awarded punitive damages. These damages are rare, but they can be awarded when the at-fault party’s conduct was particularly egregious or intentional. Punitive awards are reserved for the most extreme and outrageous cases of wrongdoing, but if they apply in your case, it is important to have a personal injury lawyer who knows how to seek them for you. These damages are not tied to any losses, but instead aim to punish the wrongdoer.
Proving Your Personal Injury Claim
To successfully pursue and win a personal injury case, one must sufficiently prove the following elements of negligence regarding the at-fault party:
- The party had a legal obligation to act in a manner intended to keep you safe from harm.
- The person or entity you are suing failed to meet this obligation or duty.
- Their breach of duty led to your accident and injuries.
- You suffered losses because of the injuries.
Even if you know that someone else acted wrongfully and was to blame for your injuries, you still need to provide evidence of their negligence to win your injury claim. This is one reason why you should always have the help of an experienced personal injury law firm. We can handle every aspect of your legal claim while you focus on your physical recovery and treatment.
Contact a Grayson Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If you have been in an accident that was caused by a negligent party and you suffered injuries because of the accident, contact Spaulding Injury Law today for free legal consultation. One of our experienced Grayson personal injury attorneys will discuss your case with you and explain what your rights are and what we can do for you to make sure you obtain the full compensation you deserve.
