Car accidents can create a myriad of financial burdens, especially when the injuries force you to take time off and heal from the injuries. If you were in a coma caused by a car wreck, you are eligible for several compensation options. Personal injury settlements are intended to give you the resources required for you to recover physically, emotionally, and financially. The following is a discussion of the types of compensation you may claim, from whom, and why you might need an attorney to take you through the process.
Types of Car Accident Compensation
There are many compensation types that you may receive in an accident claim, depending on your circumstances. Make sure you consult your car accident attorney to determine yours. However, there are four primary types of damages that you could receive compensation for:
Medical Expenses
This compensation includes any of the payments you made to treat the injuries suffered in the accident. You can claim for the hospital stay bills, prescription medication bills, pain medication, and even physical therapy.
If the injuries suffered necessitate ongoing medical care, you could even claim for anticipated future medical bills.
Lost Income
Compensation for lost revenue is awarded when you had to miss work during your recovery. It also includes any future lost wages in case the injury requires you to continue staying home as you heal. Sometimes, the loss of income is permanent; for instance, as a surgeon, you may suffer nerve-related damages on your hands that ultimately force you out of work. In such a circumstance, the surgeon can sue for all the lost future income.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering damages generally refer to all the emotional and physical trauma you may experience while injured. Pain and suffering compensation extends not just to during the actual accident but covers the recovery processes too.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are rarely awarded in auto accident cases. The court awards punitive damages when the conduct of the driver was incredibly irresponsible. For instance, the court may ask a drunk driver to pay punitive damages to deter them from repeating the same.
Who Pays Your Compensation
When the at-fault driver has insurance coverage, you’re likely to receive the damages from their insurer. However, if the driver has no insurance or their insurance is insufficient, then your personal underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage will cover the expenses for you.
Should You Get a Lawyer?
In simple accident cases where there were minimal property damages and minimal injuries, with no dispute on fault, it may be easy to settle a claim. However, in cases where there is a contest of responsibility and you sustained severe injuries, the case would be a lot easier to handle with a lawyer by your side as you undergo treatment. A lawyer will face all the other parties and their lawyers for you.
To recover the compensation from a car accident claim, your lawyer will help you prove that the other driver was responsible for the accident. According to your accident’s circumstances, the lawyer proves that the other vehicle’s driver acted so unreasonably that it amounted to negligence. Negligence may include violation of traffic rules, distracted driving, or driving while under the influence of drugs.
Get Compensation for Your Car Accident
Even injuries that appear minor at first may end up very crucial. Some injuries won’t show until a few days or even weeks after an accident. After any car accident, always ensure that you seek medical attention, and allow a medical professional to examine your injuries.
At the scene of the accident, gather as much photographic evidence of the crash as possible. Go ahead and record videos to document all the circumstances that surrounded the event. Next, ensure you get a copy of the police report that will include the other involved parties’ contact information. Next, see a lawyer with all this information before speaking to or accepting any other driver’s offer or insurance.
