Compensatory Damages
What are Compensatory Damages?
The issue of compensating damages is central to any case involving claims of bodily harm. When someone else’s carelessness or recklessness causes you to incur a financial loss, you have the legal right to demand compensation from the person who caused your loss. This sum of money is referred to as “compensatory damages” in formal and legal contexts. It is intended to compensate you for the damage you suffered.
Compensatory damages may include any of the following:
- Vehicle Repairs
- Lost Wages
- Medical Expenses
There are many other types of losses that could be covered. These are not the same as punitive damages, which are paid to punish a negligent person for their actions.
Why Are Compensatory Damages Awarded?
To “make whole” the individual or people who were damaged is the overarching objective of all forms of compensatory damages. This does not simply mean bringing them back to the same level of health they had before the accident. It also involves restoring their previous level of success in all aspects of their life, including their finances. Because of this, compensatory damages pay for a great deal more than only the monetary amount of medical expenses.
Imagine, for instance, that a person was involved in a car accident and sustained severe burns. The amount of money awarded for compensatory damages would include not only the price of their medical care but also, very potentially, additional sums for their mental and physical anguish. It is excruciatingly painful and detrimental to a person’s quality of life to have to spend months healing from burns. The additional money is intended to compensate for the non-tangible harm that they were subjected to.
What Happens When There Are Losses That Can Never Be Replaced?
This is the most challenging aspect of being a lawyer for people who have suffered personal injuries. Every week, our lawyers talk to individuals who have lost something irretrievable, as well as families who have suffered the loss of a member of their immediate or extended family. There is no amount of money that could possibly compensate for this loss.
However, regardless of the circumstances, the victims have a legal claim to monetary compensation. They will not feel any better as a result of the money, nor will it be able to make up for what was taken from them. Its’ goal is to make it easier for them to deal with the challenges they are up against as they attempt to go forward. It is possible that this will help to avoid personal problems from becoming compounded by financial difficulties.
Very large damages may include any of the following:
- Loss of a Loved One
- Physical Suffering
- A Permanent Disability
- Psychological Trauma
- An Injury That Prevents the Victim From Returning to Their Career
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney After Being Involved in an Accident
If you were involved in an accident and you believe it was caused by someone else’s careless actions, make sure you contact a personal injury law firm as soon as possible.
Your attorney will make sure you receive maximum compensation for all of your losses. They won’t let the insurance company take advantage of you, and they will inform you if the insurance company is offering a fair settlement or not.
Having an attorney represent you during this difficult time is always in your best interest. Contact us to schedule a free consultation today.
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