When you are looking at filing a personal injury suit, then you may be wondering what you could actually recover, whether it will be worth it to go through this legal process. While an experienced Raleigh personal injury lawyer can look over the different possible damages in your specific case, here then is an overview of what you might receive in compensation.
Compensatory Damages
The first type of damages you could receive are compensatory damages. The simplest type of compensatory damages is when you have a concrete amount that you need to recover, such as the extent of your medical costs and car repair fees. Then there is the problem of trying to come up with a dollar amount to compensate you for pain and suffering. With a skilled personal lawyer on your side though, you can fight to secure the full amount for the damages you have incurred by another’s negligence.
First off, you could recover damages for medical bills. Not only is this meant to help you recover what you have already paid for medical treatment, but you could get a settlement that also covers what you will need for future medical care. Then there are lost wages. This could mean wages that you have missed out on because of your injury, and it could also refer to “loss of earning capacity”. This means wages you will lose out on the future because you have lost some ability to perform a job.
Pain and Suffering
You can be compensated for any past, current, and future pain and discomfort that your injury has caused. This also goes for emotional distress. This usually is for more traumatic events, accidents that lead to psychological problems, such as fear and trouble sleeping.
More than car damage or loss, you might be compensated for any lost items whatsoever. You might also be able to recover damages for loss of enjoyment and loss of consortium. The first refers to the lost ability to participate in activities you once did, such as a sport or a hobby. The latter relates to the spouse of the injured plaintiff, such as the spouse’s loss of a sexual relationship.
Punitive Damages
Sometimes compensation will mean more than your recovering financially after an accident. It can also mean punishment for the defendant. If you were harmed by negligence that was particularly blatant and heinous, then you may be entitled to more than compensatory damages. This is also more than a penalty exacted on a defendant, but it is also meant to deter others from committing the same negligence ever again.
Unfortunately, there is contributory negligence in North Carolina. What this means is that if the other party can prove that you are in fault in any way, even if you are only 1 percent at fault, then you can lose out on all right to compensation. You do not have to worry about figuring out whether or not you have a case, however. At the Whitley Law Firm, we offer a free consultation. We further operate on a contingency fee basis.
This means that our Raleigh personal injury lawyers can tell you for free about the strength of your claim, and we take your case and do not win, you do not have to pay. With more than 38 years of experience, we may be able to protect you from receiving liability for an accident you have suffered, and we are ready to fight to ensure that our clients receive full compensation. Contact our firm today to learn what our team of dedicated lawyers can do for you!
