Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Charlotte Injury Lawyer Matt Arnold answers the question: “What is the value of my case?”
An accident can happen in a second, and when it does, it can change your life forever. When an accident is caused by someone’s negligence, you may be owed money for your injuries. Some injuries may require extensive hospitalization, surgeries, and rehabilitation time, and some injuries result in lifelong disabilities. You could be out of work during your recovery, limiting your ability to provide for your family. A personal injury claim is necessary to get you the money you deserve from the negligent party. If you were seriously hurt in a car accident or other accident, you might wonder how much money you will be able to get for a personal injury claim.
What are Your Damages?
When you get hurt, you incur a variety of costs. These costs are collectively called damages. Damages include all of the medical expenses and other expenses due to the accident. There are several types of damages:
- Economic damages
- Non-economic damages
- Punitive damages
Economic damages are those that have actual costs associated with them. Examples of economic damages are hospital bills, medication costs, and money for lost wages, among others. Non-economic damages do not have actual monetary amounts established through receipts. Some kinds of non-economic damages include money for pain and suffering, mental anguish, and reduced enjoyment of life, for instance. Punitive damages are meant to punish the party for negligent behavior that resulted in harm to another. A judge may impose punitive damages in cases where the party’s negligence was extremely egregious.
Personal Injury Compensation in North Carolina
Some North Carolina laws might limit the amount of money you can receive for a personal injury claim. You may receive compensation in a lump sum or structured payments over time. Generally, you must agree to bring no further legal action when you accept a settlement. You can obtain the entire compensable damages you incurred due to the accident. However, the law caps the amount of money you can obtain for punitive damages at no more than three times the amount of compensatory damages. Additional limits exist for medical malpractice lawsuits and claims against governmental agencies.
Getting the Most for Your Personal Injury Claim
Not all personal injury claims are alike. The circumstances and events surrounding the accident and the severity of injuries are just a few of the factors determining how much a personal injury claim is worth. Generally, you can do a few things to ensure you receive the highest compensation possible for your claim. After an accident, the insurance company may want to settle the case as soon as possible. If you receive a settlement offer, review it thoroughly and do not accept it if it is too low. Make sure you gather copies of all the bills and expenses associated with your damages. An experienced personal injury attorney will be best able to negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.
If you or a loved one was hurt in an accident, do not delay. Contact our offices at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, today at (704) 370-2828 for a free initial consultation.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, are dedicated to maximizing financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car, and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life and that the effects often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, are dedicated to helping clients determine their claims’ strength and aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
Punitive damages | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute (cornell.edu)
damages | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute (cornell.edu)
Image Credit:
Patient with sling and cup of pills Free Stock Photo | FreeImages
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