When you receive car accident injuries, you should file an auto accident claim as quickly as possible. This is because you’re entitled to monetary compensation from the insurance company to cover all the costs and damages you will incur as a result of being in an accident. However, there are more types of damages that are payable than most people suppose, so be sure that you know what you’re entitled to when the time comes to file your claim.
Types of Damages
Here are all the types of damages typically paid for when an insurance company offers an auto accident settlement.
- Medical / Future Medical – This is intended to cover medical expenses that may befall you after the accident. It should be enough not just for a post-accident checkup, but for continual care, surgeries, medicines, every medical expense that comes about, both now and in the future, because of the accident.
- Pain and Suffering – Pain and suffering, like medical, also relates to injuries you sustained during the accident, but attempts to compensate for those injuries in a more abstract way. In other words, while medical is intended to cover your medical expenses, pain and suffering is intended to compensate you for the sheer inconvenience of having to live with pain in the days (or weeks or months) following the accident.
- Mental Anguish – Much mental anguish can result after an auto accident. Maybe you now suffer anxiety about driving, or maybe you’ve become depressed because of the uncertainty in your future. Whatever the case, mental anguish damages are available.
- Lost Wages – Lost wages are paid to you in an attempt to compensate for money you will lose by not being able to work for a time after the accident.
- Loss of Earning Capacity – Should an accident leave you incapable of working in the long term, a settlement will also cover this, offering you damages in exchange for the salary you’ve now been deprived of.
- Loss of Consortium – One of the most frequently overlooked types of damages, loss of consortium is often filed by an uninjured spouse as compensation for losing “spousal benefits” following an accident. This can mean loss of financial security, loss of sexual capability, or any reduction in the quality of a couple’s life together.
- Property Damage – You’re also entitled to damages for any property destroyed in the accident, from your car to items on your person (such as your computer or phone if they were in the car at the time of the collision).
Get the Most by Going with an Attorney
Even if you now know about all the different types of damages that you might receive in an auto claim settlement, it’s still important to consult the advice of a qualified attorney when dealing with any legal matter. Their representation can help ensure that you receive fair compensation for your troubles.
