You can work with a personal injury lawyer to pursue a claim
If you’ve been injured as a result of another person’s negligence, you can work with a personal injury lawyer to pursue a claim.
Personal injury claims cover a broad range of occurrences that may result in physical or mental harm, property damage or other types of loss. Examples of personal injury law include:
- Car, truck and motorcycle accidents
- Slip and falls
- Tractor-trailer crashes
- Premises liability
- Dog bites
- Bicycle accidents
When a personal injury occurs, caring for the injury and related damage is of the utmost importance. After that, it’s a good idea to connect with a personal injury law firm to better understand options and next steps.
Those who suffer a personal injury are often left with daunting medical bills, lost wages and other expenses. Rather than shoulder those financial burdens, claimants can file a personal injury lawsuit to hold the negligent person or business accountable.
That accountability includes the pursuit of damages — in other words, financial compensation for the personal injury and its related effects. Damages from personal injury lawsuits fall under two categories.
Compensatory Damages vs. Punitive Damages
1. Compensatory Damages
As the name suggests, compensatory damages are meant to compensate a personal injury plaintiff for the outcomes incurred as
a result of the personal injury.
Compensatory damages encompass a broad range of damages that are typically grouped into two categories: general compensatory damages and special compensatory damages.
Special compensatory damages are awarded as a result of an injury. Because expenses vary so widely depending on the specific nature of the injury and other circumstances, it’s best to consult with a personal injury lawyer to
understand qualifying damages based on your specific situation. These special compensatory damages might include:
- Medical bills
- Future medical care
- Loss of current or future earnings
- Diminished value claims
- Loss of use
- Lost wages
General compensatory damages are more widely awarded to compensate for the harm incurred, both mental and physical. As opposed to special compensatory damages, which are calculated based on specific bills or related information, general compensatory damages are subjective and can be more difficult to project, especially in instances of unknown future effects
— PTSD, emotional distress, chronic pain, long-term medical care, and pain and suffering for example.
2. Punitive Damages
These damages are meant to punish those who caused harm, whether an individual, a group of people or a business. Typically,
punitive damages are most often assessed to companies, but can also be assessed to individuals — drunk or distracted driving are common examples.
Personal injury lawyers prove by clear and convincing evidence the defendant’s conduct was intentional or deliberate and flagrant disregard for the safety of others. Missouri law has recently changed raising the bar to seek punitive damages and placing several procedural hurdles in place. As such, plaintiffs need experienced counsel to investigate their claim and navigate the new changes in the punitive damages law. If successful, plaintiffs are compensated for the harm they suffered while other people or companies are deterred from doing the same harm.
Determining the Value of Your Personal Injury Case
With so many factors at play, it’s best to contact a qualified personal injury attorney to assist with your claim. The following information can help determine your claim’s value:
- Circumstances of the accident
- Nature and extent of injuries
- Amount of time missed from work
- Medical treatment
- Impact/disruption to daily life
If you have questions about a personal injury claim, whether for yourself or on behalf of a loved one, feel free to contact the professionals at Humiston Law. We’ll help you understand your rights, guide you through each step of the process and ensure you get the compensation you deserve.