Victims who suffer injuries as the result of another’s careless or negligent actions have the legal grounds to pursue financial compensation for their damages. Because every case, accident, and injury is different, it is not always easy to say what damages a victim is entitled to recover in their unique case. However, there are certain types of damages that victims can pursue and possibly recover, provided that they clearly and convincingly illustrate these damages and prove that they resulted from the accident and injuries they sustained.
At Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs, our Houston personal injury lawyers have earned national recognition for passionately protecting the rights of the injured and the wronged, and for helping victims secure a full and fair recovery of their damages when they needed it most. To help you better understand the types of damages victims may be able to recover in a case, our Houston personal injury lawyer has put together the following list:
Economic Damages
Victims who suffer injuries in preventable accidents can incur real, and sometimes extensive, monetary costs. These economic damages, as they are known, are all financial losses a victim sustains as a direct result of their accident and injuries, and commonly include:
- Medical bills
- Costs of needed medical care in the future
- Lost income from missing work
- Lost future income from diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
Economic damages have verifiable and calculable sources of evidence, whether they be bills, documents, or the educated calculations of future needs made by medical experts. In some cases, these economic damages can be extensive, which is why our team always makes it a point to fully account for all financial losses our clients experienced and may experience in the future.
Non-Economic Damages
Unlike economic damages, non-economic damages do not have verifiable monetary figures that can be added up into an easy to understand sum. These damages are more intangible, and can include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental or emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment or quality of life
- Permanent impairment or disfigurement
- Loss of companionship or support experienced by families
As you can see, non-economic damages cast a wide net when it comes to referring to how an accident impacted the life of a victim and even their loved ones. Injuries can very well upend one’s life, causing a great deal of stress, anguish, and concern. These damages, while not as easy to prove as economic damages, are still an important component of personal injury claims because it is well known that victims can suffer tremendous emotional difficulties.
Exemplary Damages
Sometimes referred to as punitive damages, exemplary damages are not awarded in most personal injury cases. They are reserved for cases in which defendants, or the party responsible for causing an accident and injuring a victim, commit acts of fraud, malice, or egregious negligence. Exemplary damages can provide further compensation to victims, in addition to further penalizing defendants and making a statement that their conduct is inexcusable and unacceptable. Texas has strict laws in place governing the use of exemplary damages in personal injury cases, including a cap that limits the maximum amount of damages that can be awarded against a defendant.
In every case our firm handles, we do our due diligence to draw from over a century of experience and extensive resources to help clients maximize their compensation as much as possible. If you have questions about a personal injury case and the damages you may be entitled to recover, contact Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs for a free consultation!
