When another person’s negligence or wrongdoing harms you, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your losses. This compensation awarded by a judge or jury is known as damages. Obtaining compensation is the goal of a personal injury case. Damages are intended to help you recover from the financial burden caused by the wrongdoer. They are also intended to hold the at-fault party accountable for their actions.
What Are Damages in a Kentucky Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Determining damages in personal injury cases involves looking at factors such as your medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering. Compensation from a Kentucky personal injury lawsuit typically falls into one of two categories:
Economic Damages
Economic damages include compensation for losses that have a specific dollar value. For example, if you miss work after suffering a serious injury accident, you may seek compensation for your lost income as part of your economic damages. Economic damages often include money for things such as your medical bills, future medical expenses, and reduced future earnings.
Non-Economic Damages
You may also seek compensation for non-economic damages such as pain, discomfort, and emotional distress. You might experience severe pain after a car accident, but it’s often challenging to quantify exactly how much you should be compensated for the pain you have experienced. Factors that can help determine non-economic damages include the severity of the injury, the duration of your recovery and the impact it has on your daily life. The amount of damages awarded will vary based on the jurisdiction, the circumstances of the case, and the persuasiveness of the evidence presented. An experienced Kentucky damages lawyer understands the types of evidence needed to build a strong case for compensation.
Determining the Value of Your Damages
Determining the value of your damages in a personal injury lawsuit isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. Each case has unique facts and requires different types of evidence. You might use medical records, medical bills, pay stubs, and tax returns to support your claim for compensation for your medical expenses and lost wages resulting from your injury. Non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, might require testimony from expert witnesses and personal accounts.
How To Calculate Personal Injury Damages
Calculating your economic damages involves adding up your medical bills, lost wages, and other losses with fixed dollar values. An experienced attorney will consult with your doctors to determine any future medical you may require. You can also seek compensation for future expenses related to your injury. Calculating non-economic damages is more challenging. One common method involves multiplying your economic damages by a number between 1 and 5, with higher multipliers for cases involving more severe injuries and non-economic losses. A damages lawyer in Kentucky can help document all your losses from an accident to maximize your potential compensation.
Contact Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer Today
If you have questions about seeking damages in a personal injury claim, talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer. Our Kentucky personal injury attorneys at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer have handled many personal injury lawsuits for people in difficult circumstances just like you. We are ready to evaluate your case and discuss what damages you might be entitled to claim. We aim to seek full and fair compensation for injured people who turn to our Kentucky Courage law firm for help. Our personal injury lawyers are available 24/7 to take your call. Call us at (877) 809-5352 or reach out to us online for a free case evaluation.
