Economic Damages
After an accident, the only thing you should be concerned about is getting better and returning life to normalcy as quickly as possible. An unfortunate reality for many individuals is that the fear of medical bills and loss of income quickly take precedence over recovery efforts. This is why personal injury lawyers work so diligently to educate and provide assistance to those affected by negligence. Economic damages are thankfully a tangible number that can be provided when filing a personal injury claim so those who are injured can obtain the medical care they need. Examples of economic damages include lost wages and medical bills.
Lost Wages
Lost wages in personal injury cases include income someone would have earned but was unable to due to their injury and recovery time. Paid time off is often not sufficient to cover lost wages, and what’s more: you should not have to use your hard-earned PTO to heal from an accident that you didn’t even cause. For this reason, “lost wages” can include a calculation of past and future earnings based on previous salary and employment history, and in addition, any promotions, raises, or bonuses that they would have received if not for the injury. Decreased earning potential as a direct cause of the injury is also taken into account.
This information is especially important in the event that you are no longer able to work due to physical, mental, or emotional trauma sustained in the accident. Your current or former employer may be able to assist with providing documentation in this regard. Providing documentation of specific dollar amounts is integral to the case in order to obtain the full amount of lost wages.
Medical Bills
Medical bills have a way of adding up even in cases where you have relatively good health. After an injury, those costs grow exponentially. In personal injury cases, medical bills refer to any expense incurred as a result of the negligent injury. This includes, but may not be limited to, ER visits, ambulance rides, doctor’s visits, hospital stays, surgeries, prescriptions, physical therapy, and continuing care after a permanent injury. Getting medical assistance early in the process is extremely important to the case as all injuries have to be directly related to the incident in order to be used as evidence to support the claim. Even if the injury seems small or inconsequential at first, always receive medical attention as soon as possible. In many cases, only time can tell if an injury is permanent, so obtaining documentation that relates to the accident is key.
In cases that reach litigation, the more medical bills and lost wages you have, the higher the amount of awarded damages in the verdict will be. Always remember that the Office of Robin Frazer Clark, P.C. is in your corner to help you get the highest payout for your personal injury claim. For a free initial consultation, contact us online, or call (404) 873-3700 today.