What kinds of damages can victims of car accidents claim for?

The law allows for a person who has suffered harm due to the negligence of another party or parties to pursue a claim for monetary relief. Victims of car accidents may find that they are entitled to receive compensation from the party found to be at fault. The question is — how will one know if a claim is viable?

The best place to start is to consult a personal injury lawyer, as an extensive knowledge of Illinois personal injury laws can ensure a detailed evaluation of an individual case. Many personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, i.e. a lawyer will evaluate clients cases with no initial costs, and if the case is pursued, no fee will be charged until the client approves a settlement or a recovery has been awarded by a court. The lawyer will also be able to explain the different kinds of damages a person may be entitled to claim.

Monetary compensation may be sought for injuries suffered during the accident, as well as injuries emerging as a result of the accident. The families of victims are also entitled to institute claims when their relationship with the victim is affected due to the injury. Some of the claims one can institute are more familiar than others, such as seeking reimbursement for medical expenses and loss of wages.

Many types of damages relate to changes in a person’s financial situation. These include the need to hire a person to do the housekeeping while the victim recuperates, future medical treatment, loss of wages and earning ability and permanent disability. Other types of damages relate more to the emotional and psychological impact an accident has had on the victim. The damages for emotional harm include mental anguish, pain and suffering, deformity or disfigurement and a loss of enjoyment of life.

Illinois law does not only allow for victims of car accidents to pursue claims for damages, but also spouses and families. A spouse may claim for loss of consortium should the accident result in major changes in a marital relationship. Wrongful death claims allow for a family to pursue a claim for their loss of closeness, companionship and love from the person taken from them. The knowledge a personal injury lawyer has of the intricacies of legal compensation makes it important to secure appropriate advice to protect one’s best interests with regard to a civil claim.

Source: FindLaw, “Economic Recovery for Accidents and Injuries“, Accessed on March 27, 2017