Personal injury victims can recover compensation for their losses and damages through a civil lawsuit. To be eligible for compensation, the victim must hire an injury lawyer in Fort Erie to prove that the defendants were negligent. The types of compensation available in a personal injury case are as follows:
• Past and Future Medical Expenses
Medical expenses include any costs associated with treating your injuries, including surgery, hospital bills, drugs, physical therapy and other medical services. If you have permanent injuries or ongoing medical problems resulting from your accident, these costs may also continue into the future. It’s important to note that these costs are subject to deductibles on health insurance policies. Therefore, if you’ve already paid these bills out of pocket but have yet to be reimbursed, then the court will only award what is still owed to you after subtracting what has been paid out by insurance companies.
A lawyer can help you through each step of the legal procedure, ensuring that your rights are protected at every turn and that your case has the best possible chance at success in court.
• Past and Future Lost Wages
Lost wages refer to any income you would have earned if you weren’t injured in an accident. For example, if you lost time from work due to your injuries and had previously been earning $50 per hour, you could ask for $50 per hour multiplied by how many hours you missed to make up for those lost wages. However, keep in mind that courts often deduct specific amounts from lost wage claims such as 401(k) contributions or other benefits previously received by employees at their jobs (e.g., health insurance). Therefore, you may need to adjust your claim accordingly.
• Pain and Suffering Damages
Pain and suffering damages are often awarded in personal injury cases involving catastrophic injuries such as spinal cord damage or brain damage. These injuries cause long-term disabilities or disfigurement that will require ongoing medical treatment for years or decades into the future. These damages are intended to compensate the injured party for the physical pain they experienced and the emotional distress caused by the incident.
• Punitive Damages
Juries award punitive damages to punish defendants who have acted with malice or recklessness beyond ordinary negligence. Punitive damages are usually reserved for situations where it is difficult to quantify actual economic losses caused by an injury but where there is clear evidence of malice or gross negligence on the part of a defendant. Such damages are most commonly awarded in product liability cases where it can be shown that the defendant knowingly sold a defective product. However, they may also be available in medical malpractice, sexual assault, wrongful death, or other intentional torts. Your lawyer will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to get the maximum amount possible.