After you have been made a victim of a personal injury accident, you may submit a claim to your insurance company to recover your damages. But the odds are that this payout will not be nearly enough to cover your current and future expenses. This is why you may attempt to recover the remaining balance in a personal injury claim. Read on to discover what damages you can recover in your claim and how one of the seasoned Bergen County personal injury attorneys at McNerney & McAuliffe can ensure everything is taken care of.
What are common damages I can recover in a personal injury claim?
Most commonly, plaintiffs of a personal injury claim will seek financial compensation to recover their economic damages. And economic damages refer to the monetary losses that you incurred as a direct result of your accident. Common examples include your lost wages due to your inability to return to work or your bills due to your need to repair your property.
Another common type of economic damage is medical expenses. Depending on the severity of your injuries, your medical bills may pile on for months, years, or even a lifetime after your accident. This is why plaintiffs commonly seek financial compensation for both their current and future medical expenses. Examples are as follows:
- Current medical expenses:
- The cost of your ambulatory services.
- The cost of your hospital stays.
- The cost of your surgeries.
- The cost of doctor’s visits.
- Future medical expenses:
- The cost of in-home nursing services.
- The cost of domestic services.
- The cost of handicap repairs to your home and car.
- The cost of transportation to and from your doctor’s appointments.
What other types of damages can I recover?
Sometimes, plaintiffs may also claim non-economic damages. This is considered to be the non-monetary losses that you incurred as a direct result of your accident. Examples are your physical pain and suffering due to your injuries or your loss of enjoyment of life due to the inconvenience of your injuries.
In addition, plaintiffs may seek punitive damages. With this, they are not looking for a financial award; rather, they are looking to punish the defendant. This is because punitive damages are ordered so to deter the defendant from engaging in such negligent behavior in the future. In the state of New Jersey, the cap for punitive damages is $350,000, or five times the compensatory award. And this is typically only sought out in a medical malpractice case.
The bottom line is that, if you require financial compensation after your accident, then you need one of the competent Bergen County personal injury attorneys in your corner. Call or send a message to McNerney & McAuliffe today. We look forward to hearing from you.
