In Texas, compensation from car accident claims is categorized into economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are quantifiable losses that can be directly linked to a specific dollar amount. These may include:
● Medical costs: This covers past, ongoing, and future medical expenses related to the accident, such as doctor visits, surgeries, physical therapy, and other treatments.
● Lost earnings: If you’ve had to take time off work to recover from the accident, you may be compensated for these lost wages.
● Future income loss: If your injuries limit your ability to earn a living, you may be compensated for this loss of future income.
● Replacement services: If the accident prevents you from performing your usual daily tasks, you may need to hire services for home cleaning, yard work, childcare, etc. These costs can be included in your claim.
● Home or property modifications: If the accident has led to temporary or permanent disability, modifications may need to be made to your home or other property to accommodate your new abilities.
● Property damage: This covers damage to your vehicle and any other property damaged in the crash.
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are awarded for less tangible but equally significant impacts. These may include:
● Pain and suffering
● Emotional distress
● Loss of enjoyment of life
● Loss of consortium (a legal term for loss of intimacy in a family relationship)
In some rare cases, punitive damages may be awarded. These are intended to punish particularly negligent or reckless acts and deter similar behavior in the future.
One of the advantages of having an attorney represent your accident claim is their ability to accurately calculate a compensation package that considers past, current, and future medical treatments, needs, disabilities, and other expenses related to your accident.
