If you’ve been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be wondering what forms of compensation you could receive in a personal injury lawsuit. Settlement in personal injury lawsuits can take many forms but typically consists of one or more: economic, non-economic, and punitive damages. In this blog post, we’ll look at each type of damage in turn.
Personal Injury Lawsuits
Personal injury lawsuits are a type of civil lawsuit filed by an individual who has been injured or harmed due to another person’s negligence or wrongful actions. These lawsuits can be filed against individuals, businesses, or government entities.
In the United States, personal injury lawsuits are one of the most common cases in civil court. According to data from the U.S. Courts, over 226,000 personal injury lawsuits were filed in federal court in 2017. This number does not include the number of personal injury lawsuits filed in state court.
So, what are the most common types of personal injury lawsuits filed in the United States? Here are some statistics from 2017:
- Motor vehicle accidents: 54%
- Slip and fall accidents: 15%
- Medical malpractice: 7%
- Product liability: 6%
- Premises liability: 10%
- Others: 8%
Three Forms Of Personal Injury Lawsuit Compensation
There are three primary forms of compensation in a personal injury lawsuit: economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.
Economic damages
Economic damages are those that reimburse a plaintiff for financial losses that have occurred as a result of the defendant’s actions. This includes medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. In some cases, economic damages can also include future losses, such as the loss of earning potential if the plaintiff cannot return to work.
While economic damages are typically relatively easy to calculate, they can still significantly impact the overall damages awarded in a personal injury lawsuit. For this reason, working with an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you recover the full extent of your economic damages is essential.
Non-economic damages
Non-economic damages, also known as “pain and suffering” damages, are damages awarded to an injured plaintiff in a personal injury lawsuit. These damages are not intended to compensate the plaintiff for any financial losses but rather to address the physical and emotional injuries that the plaintiff has suffered due to the defendant’s negligence.
Non-economic damages can be challenging to quantify, as they are not limited to expenses like medical bills or lost income. Instead, they may include compensation for physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and more. In some cases, punitive damages may also be available to punish the defendant for reckless or intentional misconduct.
Punitive damages
Under personal injury law, punitive damages are awarded to a plaintiff in addition to compensatory damages. Punitive damages are designed to punish the defendant for their actions and to deter others from engaging in similar conduct.
There are many factors that a court will consider when deciding whether or not to award punitive damages, including the severity of the defendant’s actions, the harm the plaintiff suffered, and the defendant’s wealth.
Punitive damages can be a significant amount of money, and they can profoundly impact a personal injury case. Suppose someone else’s negligence has injured you. In that case, it is essential to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss your options and decide whether or not filing a lawsuit is right for you.
Each form of compensation serves a different purpose, and the injured party may even be entitled to all three forms of damages in case of a severe personal injury claim.
You may be entitled to compensation if you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence. The type and amount of compensation you receive will depend on the specific facts of your case. Some common forms of payment in personal injury lawsuits include medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To learn more about what you may be entitled to, contact the experienced San Gabriel Valley personal injury lawyers at 626-602-9483.