Lawsuit Damages

If you were involved in an accident because someone else's negligence, you may be in the process of filing a personal injury lawsuit.
One of the first things that will be discussed with the attorney is potential damages.
In a lawsuit "damages" mean the amount of compensation you will be awarded if you are successful in winning your case.
The two most common types of damages are compensatory damages and punitive damages.
Compensatory damages are those items which are covered as a result of injury or damaged property.
For instance if a person was involved in an auto accident they may be compensated for medical expenses, loss of wages, destruction of property, pain and suffering, emotional distress and out of pocket expenses.
These types of damages are awarded to a claimant through a lawsuit settlement or a plaintiff in a personal injury lawsuit.
If the case goes to trial a judge or jury may award the total damages in the case.
Punitive damages are different than compensatory damages.
Punitive damages may be awarded to the plaintiff as a punishment to the defendant.
These types of damages are typically awarded if the judge believes the defendant acted in a malicious or fraudulent manner.
There are no two cases that are the same.
In order to figure out how much money in damages will be awarded in a lawsuit settlement or trial you will need to discuss your loses with your attorney.
Your attorney will request medical reports.
These reports will include the injuries and costs associated with the treatment of injuries.
In some cases when an injury is severe the attorney may advise the client to wait until their medical treatments are complete so he or she will have a better understanding about the amount that should be awarded.
If an injury is catastrophic and ongoing treatments will be required the attorney will include the expected ongoing medical costs associated with the treatments and therapy.
If the client can't return back to work or missed time because of the accident, the attorney will request damages for lost wages.
Much like the medical expenses, if the victim is expected to be out of work for an extended period of time, the attorney may request damages for future loss of wages.
A person may also be compensated for travel costs to and from the doctors, hotel stays and other out of pocket expenses.
The damages that will be awarded to a person will vary.
It is important that you document all your expenses during your case.
You should always consult your attorney to find out what he or she believes you may be awarded.