Personal Injury Settlement Amounts and Calculating Costs in the Average Personal Injury Settlement

You might be eligible for various damages if you were injured due to someone else’s negligence. Economic, non-economic, and punitive damages are the broad categories under which damages are available in Ohio. Your accident-related medical expenses and lost wages will usually be considered when determining the value of your personal injury claim. In addition, you might have lost earning capacity or future medical expenses. These are all examples of economic damages. Economic damages can be calculated numerically in a tangible way through the documentation of your medical bills, pay stubs and other evidence. These damages are more concrete and definite than non-economic or general damages.

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Medical Expenses

Your medical expenses might include the cost of your emergency medical care, your follow up doctor and specialist appointments, physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, surgery, labs, and prescription costs. You may also be eligible to seek compensation for your reasonably certain future medical expenses should you require ongoing medical care due to a severe personal injury.

Lost Income 

You may be entitled to reimbursement for your accident-related lost wages for the time that you missed for medical appointments or for any period that you were unable to work due to your injuries. In addition, you may be entitled to future lost wages or loss of earning capacity if your injury results in permanent disability. Suppose your injury prevents you from doing your work anymore and forces you to accept a position with a lesser salary. In that case, you may be entitled to compensation for the money you would have made in the future had the accident not occurred. It is up to your personal injury lawyer to include this in your claim.

An experienced personal injury lawyer is even more recommended when you are an independent contractor whose salary differs monthly depending on the business. A typical will be more complex than presenting documentation of medical expenses and lost wages. Your personal injury attorney will also seek compensation on your behalf for your pain and suffering, also known as your non-economic damages or general damages.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering is not easy to calculate, but these awards regularly form a large portion of personal injury settlements. Your injuries caused you pain, and you may continue to endure pain for the rest of your life due to those injuries. You might be entitled to compensation for your mental suffering in addition to your physical pain and discomfort. Anxiety, mental distress, post-traumatic stress, medication, sleeplessness, and/or psychological therapy are all factors that may be considered when calculating awards for pain and suffering.,

Loss of Enjoyment of Life

You may be eligible for financial compensation if your injuries will keep you from engaging in a favorite activity. Are you a gym rat? Do you love to swim? You should be compensated for your loss if your injuries will keep you from engaging in your interests and hobbies. A good personal injury claim will emphasize how important these hobbies were to your life.

Decreased Quality of Relationships

Your injuries might make it difficult for you to appreciate your relationships with your partner or child. You may no longer be able to play with your child or go camping with your family. It’s possible that you can’t continue to be physically intimate with your partner. Your loss of ability to engage in your usual activities is an important consideration in your award of damages for pain and suffering. Particularly if these activities involve your family or loved ones. In addition, your spouse or family members may also have their own individual claims for loss of consortium related to the accident.

Your Personal Injury Settlement Can Include Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are intended to punish the defendant rather than compensate the plaintiff for their economic losses. Punitive damages are rare in personal injury cases. These damages might be recoverable in cases of gross negligence, recklessness, or indifference. Some examples might include drunk driving accidents in which the defendant has a history of drunk driving offenses. Punitive damages might also be sought against a corporation when they knowingly cause significant harm to the public in order to make a profit, particularly when the actions include deception.

Caps for Damages in Personal Injury Cases

Your damages for pain and suffering may be subject to caps in the state of Ohio. Ohio is one of several states where damage caps are in place. These caps were introduced in order to limit the liability of individuals and corporations and to discourage lawsuits. You should ask your lawyer whether damages caps might apply in your case.

A Personal Injury Lawyer in Ohio Who Can Help

The aftermath of a car accident or other injury can be overwhelming. Before fully comprehending the extent of your injuries or their long-term effects, you might find yourself struggling to deal with the insurance company on your own. A knowledgeable attorney can help you to file your personal injury claim, establish your damages, and negotiate with the insurance company. In some cases, your lawyer might file a lawsuit and take your case to trial in order to reach a jury verdict. A Columbus car accident lawyer will be by your side to provide guidance and advice throughout your case. Schedule a free case review with The Jones Firm today if you were injured in an accident and believe you may have a personal injury claim.