One word that is often associated with Virginia personal injury lawsuits is “damages.” Many people may not understand what exactly that means. Damages refers to the losses or the harm the victim suffered because of the injuries that were a result of the accident or incident the at-fault party caused. These can include economic, non-economic and punitive damages. When you contact Martin Wren, P.C. and speak with one of our Charlottesville VA injury lawyers, he or she can determine what type of damages you may be entitled to for your injuries.
What are economic damages?
Economic damages may also be referred to as pecuniary damages. These are the damages that have a specific dollar amount in losses that the victim suffered because of the negligence of the at-fault party. Some of the more common economic damages a victim can be awarded are for medical expenses for treatment of the injuries, including hospitalizations, medications, doctor’s appointments, surgeries, and therapy.
Our Charlottesville VA injury lawyers are also able to get victims financial compensation for any lost income they suffered from being unable to work because of their injuries. If the victim used sick time, vacation time, or any other benefits to cover their missed time from work, those losses can also be included in the amount they deserve.
If the injury has left the victim unable to return to the occupation they had before the accident or are unable to work at all, their personal injury lawyer can also pursue the future loss of earning capacity as another damage in the lawsuit.
What are non-economic damages?
Under the law, the purpose of a personal injury lawsuit is to “make the victim whole.” The law understands that there is no way to accomplish this physically and it can only be done financially. This means that a victim should be sufficiently compensated for any injuries they suffered that they will be just as financially stable as if the injury was never sustained.
Under this legal theory, there are other losses the victim may suffer that do not have economic totals, like medical bills, so the court will determine what their value is. These losses include pain and suffering, mental anguish, scarring, disfigurement, permanent disability, and more.
What are punitive damages?
The law also allows for punitive damages. The difference between punitive damages and other damages is that they are not meant to compensate the victim in any way but are instead awarded as a way to punish the party responsible for the accident. Punitive damages are meant to send a message to both the at-fault party and society that the behavior that caused the accident will not be tolerated. For example, it is not uncommon for a defendant in a drunk driving crash to be ordered to pay punitive damages.
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The Charlottesville VA injury lawyers at Martin Wren, P.C. aggressively advocate for all of our clients to get them the financial compensation they deserve. We will use all available resources to get you the justice you deserve. Contact our office to schedule a free consultation and find out how we can help.