Posted By Karsman, McKenzie & Hart || 10-Aug-2016
A key step in the process of filing a personal injury claim is determining what range of damages you may be entitled to recover. Depending on the severity of your injuries and the extent of your losses, you may be entitled to recover far more than you might think. While this blog can help you get a rough estimate of what you can expect, consulting with a skilled personal injury attorney will always provide you with a more accurate number.
Calculating Compensatory Damages
The first category of damages that you may recover with your personal injury claim are compensatory damages. These damages are awarded to replace what you have lost as a result of your injuries and make you “whole” again, at least from a financial perspective. While some compensatory damages are relatively easy to quantify, such as medical bills, others can be intangible and much more difficult to put into a number, such as the inability to enjoy certain activities due to physical limitations. In many cases, non-economic losses are calculated by applying a multiplier to your total economic losses.
Compensatory damages can be recovered for the following:
- Medical treatments
- Lost income
- Damaged property
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment
When Are Punitive Damages Appropriate?
In certain cases where an at-fault party’s actions were grossly negligent or particularly egregious, punitive damages may be awarded to the injured party on top of their compensatory damages. Unlike compensatory damages, punitive damages are meant to punish a negligent party’s actions. In the state of Georgia, punitive damages are only awarded when the at-fault party’s conduct demonstrates willful misconduct, wantonness, oppression, or an indifference to consequences. Since it is not uncommon for punitive damages to total in the tens of millions, many states have since enacted caps on their amounts.
Get in Touch with a Savannah Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been seriously hurt due to another party’s negligent actions or failure to take action, contact Karsman, McKenzie & Hart today. Our team of powerful Savannah personal injury lawyers can fight to recover compensation on your behalf and help get your life back on track. To find out if you have a claim, fill out an online form or call (912) 335-4977 today.
