Types of Damages in Car Accident Cases
February 7, 2024
Car accident compensation is a complicated topic. The amounts are always unique for each crash. How much money you’re eligible for hinges on many factors, such as policy limits, fault, medical prognosis, and your lawyer’s skill. Successfully recovering the car accident damages you need often depends on working with an experienced car accident lawyer with a track record of success.
Car accident compensation is split into a few different categories. Looking at these categories and what they consist of can give you an idea of your possible case value after you’ve been involved in a car crash.
Understanding Car Accident Damages
Car accident payouts often come as a lump sum. However, this isn’t how they’re calculated. Instead, the impact of a crash leaves you eligible for damages in three different areas. Your car accident lawyer conducts an investigation, collects evidence, and works to prove why you should be awarded damages in these different areas.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the chief form of car accident damages. This type of compensation reimburses you for costs and financial losses you can prove. Examples of economic damages include:
- Medical bills
- Ambulance bills
- Therapist and specialist costs
- Lost wages and benefits
- Medical devices
- Attendant care costs.
Any time a car accident causes you to lose or spend money, you might be able to recover the costs by claiming economic damages.
Other Damages
Two other types of damages might be available after a crash. Non-economic damages allow you to recover compensation for the emotional impact of the accident. This covers forms of damage such as pain and suffering or emotional anguish.
Punitive damages are the rarest form of car accident compensation and can only be recovered through a court order. This is an additional payment the at-fault party might be ordered to pay if they showed excessive negligence or caused the crash intentionally.
How a Car Accident Lawyer Increases Your Compensation
Fighting Back Against Insurance Tactics
Once you understand how car accident damages are calculated, it might seem like the compensation process is fairly straightforward. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. Insurance companies work hard to keep their payouts small. For every form of damage you claim, you’ll have an insurance adjuster fighting back, working to prove that your injuries or expenses aren’t as bad as you’re claiming.
It takes a skilled car accident lawyer to fight back against insurance tactics and recover the compensation you need.
Car accident lawyers are skilled professionals with years of experience dealing with insurance adjusters and the unfair tactics they use. An experienced car accident lawyer leverages their knowledge of personal injury law, insurance law, and insurance policy terms to build a successful case on your behalf.
If you suffered serious injuries, such as a brain injury or a spinal injury, your lawyer also needs to have a fair amount of medical knowledge to accurately argue for the long-term costs of care that result from a serious injury.
Call (215) 569-0900 to discuss your case with an experienced car accident lawyer at Wapner Newman.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the most common questions our experienced car accident lawyers hear from new clients.
Do I need a car accident lawyer to recover car accident damages?
You should always take the time to consult a car accident lawyer. Lawyers protect you from insurance tactics and help increase your compensation.
Does hiring a lawyer always increase car accident compensation?
Allowing a car accident lawyer to handle your claim nearly always leaves you with more compensation than you would have recovered without legal representation.
How long do I have to contact a car accident lawyer?
In both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit to recover car accident damages. However, it’s safer to contact a lawyer as soon as possible after the crash.
What does it cost to hire a car accident lawyer?
The car accident lawyers at Wapner Newman work on contingency. You only pay our fees if and when we win your case.
Get answers to additional questions by scheduling a consultation with a Wapner Newman car accident lawyer.
Get Help From Our Car Accident Lawyers Today
Wapner Newman Fights for You
Wapner Newman has a long track record of recovering car accident compensation for clients in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Our legal team is ready to discuss whether we can help you recover the car accident compensation you need.
Call Wapner Newman at (215) 569-0900 to schedule your free consultation with one of our experienced car accident lawyers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.