What Types of Damages Can I Recover in a Personal Injury Claim?

Under SC law, you can recover various types of damages in a personal injury claim. These damages typically include economic damages and non-economic damages. Knowing the different types of damages you have suffered is a key factor in securing maximum compensation for your accident-related losses.

SC personal injury laws ensure you can seek fair compensation for a range of financial and emotional damages. However, you will need a seasoned Conway personal injury attorney to make certain that you seek and recover all the damages applicable to your specific circumstances. Meanwhile, here’s a quick look at the common damages recoverable in a personal injury claim.

What Exactly Are Economic Damages in a Conway Personal Injury Claim?

Economic or special damages are intended to compensate you for actual monetary losses you incurred due to your injuries. These commonly include:

Medical Expenses

These include your current medical expenses related to your injuries, such as emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, medications, physical therapy, and doctor visits. Depending on the nature and severity of your injuries, these can also include future medical care costs.

Loss of Earnings and Reduced Earning Capacity

You can recover lost income or wages if you had to skip work because of your injuries. You may also be entitled to recover compensation for reduced earning capacity if your injuries result in a permanent or long-term disability that impacts your ability to earn a living in the future.

Damage to Property

You can seek compensation to pay for repairs or replacement of your property if your injuries were caused by the accident. For instance, if your vehicle and personal property inside it was damaged in a crash. 

What Exactly Are Non-Economic Damages in a Conway Personal Injury Claim?

Non-economic or general damages aim to compensate you for the negative emotional and psychological effects caused by your injuries. These damages normally include:

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering damages compensate you for the emotional and physical pain you’ve endured because of your injuries. Your Conway personal injury lawyer will consider the duration and severity of your pain when estimating the value of these damages.

Emotional Distress

These damages aim to compensate you for the mental anguish you have experienced due to your injuries. This can include a range of psychological effects, such as depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), among others. 

On top of the most common non-economic damages discussed above, some victims may also recover compensation for disfigurement, physical impairment, humiliation, injury to reputation, and loss of consortium.

A Note on Punitive Damages in Conway Personal Injury Claims

Punitive damages are only considered in personal injury claims involving willful misconduct or gross negligence. They are used to deter similar acts in the future instead of compensating injured victims for their losses. For instance, a judge may award punitive damages if a drunk driver injured you in a car accident or if a property owner’s intentional disregard for safety rules caused you to slip and fall in their establishment.

Let Our Respected Conway Personal Injury Lawyer Recover The Damages You Deserve

To learn the specific types of damages you are entitled to after getting injured in an accident, contact our Conway personal injury lawyer at the Law Offices of L. Morgan Martin, P.A. Schedule your free consultation with our Conway personal injury attorney today online or by calling 843-248-3177.