Just about everybody understands that if a negligent driver causes a car accident, the victim can sue them to recover the costs of their medical bills, damaged vehicle and other personal property, loss of earning capacity, and other economic harm that they suffered. But not all harm after a car crash is related to money.
Types of non-economic damages
The most common type of non-economic damages is for pain and suffering. Car crashes often result in serious injury that can mean lasting – and sometimes permanent – pain for the victim of the crash. These victims deserve compensation for this suffering as well, even if it is not easy to quantify in an exact dollar amount.
You may also have lost the ability to spend time with your family the way you used to due to your accident. This incursion into your family relationship is a serious matter. Although money cannot replace the value of time spent together, you can seek a recovery for this loss in order to help you cope with it.
There are many other non-economic damages that you can seek compensation for, such as emotional distress, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life and so forth. Your individual circumstances will govern whether you will qualify for these recoveries or not.
Qualifying for non-economic damages
The first thing that your attorney will have to prove is that the other driver is liable to you for your injuries. For example, they could show this by proving that the other driver acted negligently or carelessly, and that your injuries were a direct result of that negligence.
Then, they will have to prove the existence of each injury that you claim to have sustained. Some non-economic injuries, such as emotional distress, can be difficult – but not impossible – to prove in court.
Once your attorney successfully proves these elements, you may be on your way to receiving the compensation that you deserve after your horrific accident. While money can’t truly make up for your suffering, it can go a long way towards helping you to return to a sense of normalcy in your life after your accident.
