Durham Injury Compensation
Seeking Justice on Your Behalf
Seeking adequate and fair compensation as a result of a
car accident can be a difficult process if you, like most people, do not have experience
evaluating car accident injuries and claims. The main purpose of calculating
and determining the amount of your damages is to attempt to restore you
to the same position that you were in before the accident occurred.
Depending on your unique situation, you may be able to seek compensation
for a variety of damages, including both special and general damages.
Special damages are monetary losses that are directly related to your
accident and injuries. These damages can typically be calculated to a
specific amount. On the other hand, general damages are difficult to calculate
and are often viewed from a subjective standpoint. Additionally, general
damages are not guaranteed in every case. Our
Durham attorneys are well-versed in
personal injury law, and can advocate on your behalf so you receive the compensation you
need to recover your damages.
Call
Wallace Pierce Law today to reach one of our caring attorneys at
(919) 887-7892, or
contact us online.
What are Special Damages?
Special damages are calculable and quantifiable damages which you incur
as a result of your automobile accident. Special damages are easily documented,
proven, and calculated, yet still require detailed documentation to recover.
These documented damages must be shown as reasonable and necessary and
must also be related to the bodily injury you sustained in the accident.
Special damages include:
To prove these kinds of damages, it is important that you keep up with
all your records and receipts related to the accident.
Medical Expenses
Medical expenses generally tend to be a significant portion of most personal
injury claims for damages. These costs are extremely important because
they are viewed as the starting point for your recovery. Medical expenses
will consist of all of your medical treatment, beginning immediately after
the accident and continuing into the future, if your injury requires.
If you will continue to receive medically necessary treatment for your
injuries into the future, or if you become partially or permanently disabled
as a result of the accident, you likely have a valid argument for higher
damages, which often results in a larger recovery amount.
Lost Income
Lost income is another important component of your personal injury claim.
These damages include all wages and other earnings lost as a result of
your accident. Calculations should begin from the date of your accident
and continue until you finally return to work.
There are three general types of lost income that you may be able to claim:
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Lost opportunity
Lost wages consist of the actual time you missed from work due to the recovery
time for your injuries. Lost earning capacity issues may arise if your
injuries prevent you from working in the same profession as before the
accident. Finally, lost opportunity may be claimed when your injury caused
you to miss out on a potential business opportunity. Claims for lost income
must be supported by appropriate documentation, including letters from
both your employers and doctors stating which days you were out of work
and the reason.
Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Out-of-pocket expenses usually only make up a small portion of your personal
injury recovery after a car accident. However, out-of-pocket expenses
can be substantial in larger claims, particularly if your recovery takes
an extended amount of time. These types of expenses include costs related
to your accident that you have had to pay yourself, such as prescriptions,
medical aids (crutches, braces, walkers, etc.), travel, and any other
costs you would not have incurred but did incur because of your injuries.
To ensure you can claim out-of-pocket expenses, your receipts and other
documents should be maintained or preserved.
