What Are “Damages”? Which Should Be Included in My Settlement

One of the most common types of damages is compensatory damages. That’s an umbrella term that encompasses different types of damages, such as loss of property. The other type is punitive damages.

Compensatory Damages in Personal Injury Cases

There are many different types of compensatory damages. This list breaks them down by type and explains them further.

Medical bills and expenses are one of the most common types of damages. These are intended to reimburse you for treatment received that were necessitated by the accident, and to cover future medical expenses as you continue to heal. These expenses can include medical services such as physical therapy.

Property loss covers vehicles that may have been damaged in the accident, as well as any other items that were destroyed. If you lost valuable items in your accident then you may either be reimbursed for repairs or given the fair market value of those items if they are too damaged to be repaired. 

Loss of income is a very important type of damage. If you are injured and unable to work, then, of course, you’re going to have questions as to how to pay your rent or mortgage, put food on the table, and take care of your children if you have any. If you’re entitled to compensation for loss of wages or salary then it may include not only the time you have already missed at work but future earnings you would have had if the accident had not prevented you from working. 

Emotional distress claims are heard in Florida, but because of the Impact Rule, recovering damages is more complex. There are types of emotional distress people try to sue for, such as loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of companionship. The latter refers to when the stress of an accident has a negative impact on a marriage. This is something you want to discuss directly with your attorney if you have been suffering from emotional distress, as the laws in Florida are very strict in this regard.

Punitive Damages

If the injured person played a role in causing the accident, either through direct action or negligence, then they may be required to pay punitive damages to the plaintiff. If you are being sued for punitive damages then you will want to speak to an attorney about your specific case before talking with the insurance companies. Remember that your attorney has probably had many cases similar to yours, and will know how to fight for your rights. 

Why You Need a Personal Injury Attorney

Even if you’ve seen popular court TV shows and read a lot about personal injury suits, or know someone who was injured and told you about how much money they got, you still want to speak with an attorney about your specific case. There are laws that are unique to the State of Florida, especially when defendants are trying to sue for emotional distress. You don’t want to put yourself in a situation where you don’t get as much as you deserve, which is very possible if you don’t hire the right kind of attorney. Visit this website to get in contact with a highly-qualified attorney in Fort Lauderdale with a proven success record and the ability to fight for your rights in court.

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