Personal Injury Damages
In a personal injury lawsuit, the party that has been wronged often chooses to pursue legal action against the party responsible for their losses. The injured party may then be awarded damages, or financial compensation, from the party at fault for the accident in order to compensate for the victim’s losses. Different types of damages are awarded depending on the varying circumstances of each case.
Compensatory damages, also known as actual damages, are the most common type of damages awarded in a personal injury case. They are awarded to the victim in order to compensate for his or her losses, physical injuries, and other harm. Compensatory damages can be further divided into two types:
- General damages: These damages compensate the victim for pain and suffering, the loss of a loved one, the loss of reputation, or other losses that are non-monetary in nature. Compensation for the lost ability to enjoy life is called hedonic damages.
- Special damages: These damages compensate the victim for direct financial losses, such as medical treatment, property loss, and lost wages.
Non-compensatory damages are known as punitive damages. Punitive damages are not awarded in order to help improve the victim’s quality of life. Instead, they are meant to punish the negligent party in order to prevent them from repeating the harmful actions in the future and to persuade others to avoid this type of behavior. Punitive damages are often sought when the defendant’s severe negligence has catastrophic results, such as in drunk driving accident cases.
Contact Us
If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in an accident caused by the negligent behavior of another party, you may be eligible for financial compensation to cover your losses. For help with your case, contact the Bronx personal injury lawyers of Parker Waichman Alonso, LLP at 1-888-244-2273.
