Damages awarded in a personal injury case can seek to remedy a variety of issues that result from an accident. Below are a few descriptions of many of the variety of damages (compensatory and punitive) for which a plaintiff may be eligible in a personal injury case.
Medical:
In nearly every personal injury case a plaintiff will seek medical damages.
Medical damages are meant to compensate the plaintiff for any medical
treatment they have received as a result of the accident as well as an
estimate of any future medical treatment to address those injuries or
even future injuries that may stem from those injuries.
Lost Wages/Salary:
Lost wages are another way courts seek to make a plaintiff whole in the
aftermath of an accident. Plaintiffs are often awarded damages to cover
wages already lost as a result of the accident and any loss to future
earning capacity as a result of injuries.
Property Damage:
Property damage or loss is another award plaintiffs may seek in a personal
injury law suit. These damages are meant to replace damaged property at
fair market value.
Pain and Suffering:
Damages are also awarded to address pain and suffering when there is serious
discomfort as a result of the accident. Plaintiffs are also awarded damages
to cover ongoing pain and suffering the plaintiff suffers as a result.
Emotional Distress:
Emotional distress may be another cause for damage awards as here the
court seeks to compensate the plaintiff for the psychological impact of
their injuries. These include fear and anxiety and loss of sleep directly
attributed to the accident I question.
Loss of Enjoyment:
Damages for loss of enjoyment may be sought when the plaintiff's injuries,
disability or pain and suffering prevent them from participating in hobbies
or activities they were known to enjoy.
Loss of Consortium:
Loss of "consortium" damages may be awarded (sometimes to the
plaintiff's spouse) when a plaintiff's injuries have impacted
their relationship with their spouse causing a loss of intimacy and/or
companionship.
As you can see, there are a wide variety of awards one can seek when pursuing damages in a personal injury lawsuit. If you have questions about a personal injury case, call the attorneys at Panio Law Offices at (708) 928-8680. We offer a wealth of expertise in Illinois personal injury law. If you need help filing a claim, we can help.