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Car accidents in Louisville have the potential to permanently change a person’s life. In some cases, this may be due to physical injuries that affect a person’s mobility, a brain injury that affects their emotional or mental well-being, or long-term physical pain that prevents them from working or taking part in activities that they once enjoyed.
All of these scenarios, and many others, often come with mounting medical bills and other financial hardships that aren’t always apparent until weeks or even months after the accident takes place. However, if the accident was caused by another driver’s negligence, there are often legal measures that a person can take to recover compensation to help shoulder the financial burden. Below are some examples of the common types of car accident compensation that may apply to your case.
Medical Expenses
Medical expenses after a car accident are often the most immediate financial hardship that victims face. Even in minor accidents, medical bills can cost thousands of dollars, but in more serious accidents, the victim may end up facing tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. These expenses may include:
- Emergency room visits
- Diagnostic testing such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs
- Surgery and hospitalization
- Follow-up doctors appointments
- Long-term care, medical devices, and in-home care
Car accident settlements are designed to help cover these and many other types of medical treatment, but it’s also important to remember that this compensation is not limited to the medical bills you’ve already received. If your doctor anticipates future treatment, such as additional surgeries or pain management, these can also be included in your settlement.
Lost Wages and Loss of Earning Capacity
Dealing with an injury following a car accident can significantly affect a person’s ability to work or provide for themselves. In minor cases, this may include having to take time off work for doctors’ appointments, surgeries, or simply needing time to recover. In other, more serious cases, a victim’s injuries may also prevent them from working in the same capacity that they did before the accident. For example, a construction worker with a back injury may be unable to lift, stand, or bend on the jobsite. Similarly, a professional suffering from a brain injury may be unable to concentrate or communicate in their role.
As a result, some victims may be forced to find other, lower-paying jobs to support themselves, or even struggle to find any employment at all due to the nature of their injuries. Lost wages from a car crash are designed to account for these losses and account for potential earning capacity or damaged career trajectories that you may have endured.
Property Damage
While the damage to your vehicle will often result in much less significant financial losses compared to medical bills or potentially enduring months or years of salary loss, it’s not uncommon for victims to face thousands of dollars in mechanic expenses or having to buy a new car. Property damage compensation can cover the cost of repairs, vehicle replacement, towing fees, and rental car costs while your vehicle is being repaired.
Pain and Suffering
Not every damage is going to have a specific financial cost associated with it. Sadly, some of the most significant hardships that car accident victims face are the emotional trauma and chronic physical pain that are common in these events. Pain and suffering compensation is designed to address:
- Chronic pain and mobility issues
- Emotional trauma and mental health
- The loss of enjoyment of daily activities
- Sleep issues due to pain or emotional trauma
- Impact on social and family life
Additional or Special Damages
Outside of the many specific types of damages listed above, you or your loved ones may also be eligible to pursue a variety of less common but equally important forms of compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. In car accident cases where the at-fault driver committed a crime (such as driving under the influence or speeding) that caused the accident, the victim may be able to pursue punitive damages on top of the other damages listed above.
Additionally, some family members of the victim may be able to seek compensation if their loved one’s injuries significantly affected their lives as well. For example, if a person’s spouse is the primary provider for their family, they can sue for a loss of income if their spouse is unable to work as a result of their injuries. The same goes for emotional hardship; if the spouse’s injuries significantly affect the couple’s relationship or the non-injured spouse’s ability to receive companionship or support, they may be eligible to recover compensation.
How a Louisville Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
Being aware of the various damages you may be eligible for is one of the first steps to ensuring that you have the best chance of being paid fairly for the suffering you’ve endured. But ultimately, it’s much more important that you receive experienced and effective legal support throughout the car accident claim process. Following your free consultation, our Louisville car accident attorneys can work with you to fully calculate what you’re owed and help collect evidence that supports your claim. From there, we will build a case and negotiate with the auto insurance company, ensuring that you have the best chance of recovering maximum compensation.
Want To Ensure Your Personal Injury Claim Covers All Your Losses? Reach Out To Our Firm Today
While there is no shortage of auto accidents in Louisville, not every claim is going to be the same. Your ability to receive fair compensation for your car accident injuries depends on accurately identifying and calculating your damages. If you’re out of work due to your injuries, are having trouble paying for your medical bills, or anticipate significant, long-term chronic pain and emotional trauma, all of these ailments (along with many others) can be addressed through a car accident claim.
Louisville Injury Law Firm has spent decades representing motor vehicle accident victims, and we can help you review your legal options and support you every step of the way. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you only pay if we recover damages. Contact our firm today to discuss your case with an experienced attorney.