Posted on Monday, October 9th, 2017 at 4:54 am
Being injured because of the reckless or negligent acts of another party is a traumatic life event. You never begin your day thinking that your life will be turned upside down by a negligent driver, a defective product, or unsafe conditions at a store. Fortunately, California’s personal injury laws allow victims to seek monetary compensation for damages sustained in a personal injury accident. Examples of events that may give rise to a personal injury claim include:
- Motor vehicle accidents, including cars, motorcycles, trucks, and commercial vehicles
- Premises liability claims (e. slip and fall accidents)
- Product liability claims (e. defective and dangerous products, medical equipment and drugs)
- Medical malpractice claims
- Wrongful death claims
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Dog bites and animal attacks
When you are injured because of another party’s negligence, carelessness, or recklessness, you are entitled to recover compensation for a variety of different damages.
Financial Damages
When you are injured in a personal injury accident, one of the major factors in the amount of money you can recover is the level of your financial damages. Financial damages are out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident, injury, or recovery. They may be as simple as over-the-counter pain medications, a trip to the emergency room, and a follow-up with your family doctor. However, financial damages in some cases are quite substantial, especially in cases involving wrongful death, permanent disability, or catastrophic injuries.
Examples of the types of financial damages that you can legally claim in a personal injury case include:
- Past and future lost wages, including any loss of earning potential, bonuses, raises, and other compensation
- Past and future cost of medical care, including the cost of ongoing personal care
- Damage to personal property
- Other out-of-pockets expenses such as paying someone to clean house and travel to and from medical visits
Pain and Suffering Damages
Pain and suffering is the common name used to refer to non-economic damages. Money for non-economic damages is meant to compensate you for the “pain and suffering” you endure because of the accident, your injuries, and your recovery. Examples include the physical pain, stress, and anxiety you suffer because of the accident. You might also receive compensation for permanent disabilities, scarring, and disfigurement.
Because non-economic damages are subjective — there is not a “bill” for these damages — you want an experienced Sacramento personal injury attorney helping you build your case for pain and suffering damages. An experienced personal injury attorney understands how to use the evidence in the case to maximize the value of pain and suffering damages.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are not common in personal injury cases, but the court may award punitive damages under certain circumstances. These damages are awarded when the acts of the defendant are grossly negligent, or the actions demonstrate a willful, wanton disregard for the safety of others.
Call Now for a Free Appointment with a Sacramento Personal Injury Attorney
We want to help you recover the maximum compensation available under the law for your personal injury claim. You deserve to be compensated fully for all damages and losses you sustained because of the negligence of another party.
For a free consultation and no-obligation case evaluation, contact Tiemann Law Firm by telephone at (916) 999-9000.
