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Beyond The Obvious: Uncovering Hidden Damages In Personal Injury Claims With A Law Firm

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Hidden Damages In Personal Injury Claims With A Law Firm

Personal injury law is a legal area that deals with cases in which an individual has suffered physical or psychological harm due to the negligence, intentional actions, or strict liability of another party. The primary objective of personal injury law is to compensate the injured person, known as the plaintiff, for the losses and damages they have endured. It’s important to note that laws may vary by jurisdiction, so it’s advisable to consult with a qualified attorney about the specifics of your case.

A good lawyer assesses your legal ground and informs you about the process of filing restitution. They will also account for your injuries, ensuring those are included in the settlement offer. So if you or a loved one was hurt in an accident, consult competent legal aid like Jacoby & Meyers personal injury law firm to determine the hidden damages of your personal injury case and ensure they are accounted for in the award or settlement offer. Even if you don’t have bodily injuries, personal injury claims cover non-economic damages too. This blog will look at the hidden costs in personal injury cases.

Medical Expenses

After an injury or accident, you may need medical treatment to recover. Treatment includes surgery, medication, adaptive medical devices, and various therapies. Unfortunately, the cost of medical care is considerably high in the U.S. compared to other developed nations. You will incur significant expenses even if you carry health insurance. But if the accident happened due to someone else’s fault, they should be responsible for these expenses.

A personal injury claim allows you to pursue compensation for these costs and any other treatments and expenses you may incur in the future, including prescription medication charges and long-term rehabilitation costs.

Travel To Appointments

When determining the settlement or award amount, a good lawyer will ensure that the calculations include travel expenses incurred during the initial visit to and from the hospital and any related doctor appointments. These may include train fare, bus ticket, car fuel/fare, and packing ticket.

The individual appointment-to-appointment travel costs may not be significant until compounded, and you see the dent they’ve made in your bank account. The court allows plaintiffs to claim travel expenses as long as they are not inflated or unreasonable.

That means you shouldn’t take unnecessary appointments lest they impact the seriousness of your claim. The opposing party may even take the opportunity to claim that your injuries weren’t that serious after all.

Diminished Quality Of Life

A personal injury or accident can leave you with various physical and mental health issues leading to reduced happiness and overall well-being. Examples of diminished quality of life include the inability to engage in sports, recreation, and sports activities due to the pain and suffering related to your injuries.

A good lawyer can help you seek compensation for this loss of ability to engage in everyday tasks and enjoy the activities you once enjoyed.

Pain And Suffering

Pain and suffering due to a personal injury incident fall under non-economic damages. These are tough to determine, unlike economic damages, which always have a dollar amount, as evident from medical bills and hospital receipts.

Most insurers tend to downplay the impact of non-economic damages to avoid paying full compensation. Additionally, there’s a lot of stigmatization surrounding personal injury claims, so most victims without bodily injuries often avoid suing for fear of being labeled selfish or greedy. 

However, suing for pain and suffering allows you to obtain compensation for the distress caused by the injury up to the time of the settlement and into the future. The court recognizes pain and suffering as personal injury accident damage that can be claimed via civil litigation.

You don’t even need to have suffered physical harm. You can just sue for the emotional and psychological trauma from the incident. The compensation amount will depend on the length and severity of your suffering.

Always speak with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible after an incident. They will tell you the kind of evidence to document, including personal journals, work records, and medical and therapist records, to support your non-economic damage claims.

 

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