Around 125,000 people were injured in car accidents in Georgia back in 2020. In order to recover damages, victims often had to seek an Atlanta car accident lawyer. But if you’ve never been injured in car crashes before, chances are that you do not know what damages you can collect following one.
Individuals who have just experienced injuries in a car accident will not only be physically injured, but might also feel anxious or depressed, or even go through PTSD.
If you’re going to pursue a lawsuit, you need to know what damages you can collect. This way, you’ll know what compensation you’re entitled to and what you need to prove for your claim to be successful.
Let’s see what damages you’ll be able to get:
1.Medical Bills
Obviously, you will need medical care after an accident if you have sustained any injury. In some cases, you might require hospitalization and treatment, but also surgery. As you can imagine, it costs money – and it is not fair having to spend money on this considering you are not at fault for the incident.
Fortunately, these are expenses you can claim. This can be done by providing proof of your medical expenses such as your medical bills, as well as other proof of interacting with medical professionals.
2.Damage to Your Property
Vehicles take a lot of damage after a car crash, especially if the impact was strong. Repairs will be necessary, but in some cases, you might lose your car, requiring a new one. Both repairs and replacements can be significant expenses.
But if you can prove the other party’s fault, you will be able to collect damages following the accident. The liable individual will pay you for the damages or the loss of the car.
What’s even better is that you can claim compensation for any transportation means you spent your money on because you lost your vehicle. This includes taxis and other public transportation.
3.Lost Wages
If your injuries were severe, they may have prevented you from going to work. After all, treatment and recovery are the most important after going through such a traumatic event. Sadly, this recovery period will prevent you from earning money as you normally would.
Fortunately, you will be able to recover any lost wages from the party at fault. This also includes the bonuses you would have received throughout this period.
You need to show evidence of these lost wages to be successful in claiming them, though. Valid proof includes pay stubs, but also evidence that you were getting close to being promoted or receiving certain bonuses.
4.Punitive Damages
Sometimes, you can also collect punitive damages from the liable individual. This is the case when the one that caused the accident was negligent when driving. Such damages serve as punishment for the party responsible for the incident. Not only that, but it is also a way to discourage the person from ever being negligent in the future.
5.Burial and Funeral
When accidents are very bad, they can lead to someone’s death. So, if you have someone in your family that died as a result of a car crash, you can pursue a wrongful death lawsuit and collect damages this way.
Not only can you recover damages for pain and suffering, lost wages, property damage, and medical expenses, but you can also get compensation for funeral and burial costs, guidance loss, lost saving capacity or income, and loss of emotional and financial support.
6.Suffering and Pain
There are also non-economic damages that you can collect after a car accident, such as pain and suffering. These include the different ways you have experienced suffering following the incident, such as the care you needed for mental problems that resulted from the traumatic accident. Some issues might include anxiety and depression.
It can be hard to determine appropriate compensation for pain and suffering but considering the severity of the injuries and the accident’s nature can help reach a satisfying amount.
Final Thoughts
Being in a car accident can change your life forever, and not in a good way. You’ve gone through a terrible event that led to bad injuries which may follow you for the rest of your life, or you may have lost a car that meant a lot to you. Fortunately, there are many damages you can claim, so make sure you know what you deserve to be compensated for after the car crash.