If you were injured or lost a loved one in a Chicago personal injury accident, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages. Damages are generally categorized into three types: economic, non-economic, and punitive.
Punitive damages are rarely awarded. They are reserved for cases where the defendant’s conduct is grossly negligent or especially egregious. Most compensation recovered in Chicago injury cases is composed of both economic and non-economic damages. A Chicago personal injury attorney is here to help you.
What Is the Difference Between Economic and Non-Economic Damages?
Both economic and non-economic damages are considered compensatory because they are intended to compensate the injury victim for their losses. Economic damages may be referred to as “special damages,” and non-economic damages may be referred to as “general damages.”
Economic damages are easier to prove and value because they are objective, and you often have receipts, bills, and other tangible proof of their existence and value. Economic damages may include:
- Current and future medical expenses. Medical expenses include the costs for emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, physical and other types of therapies, doctor appointments, medication, medical equipment such as wheelchairs and crutches, and other current and future (anticipated) medical costs.
- Current and future lost wages. Lost wages include your salary, bonuses, commissions, hourly wages, and any other income and benefits you would have received if you had continued working.
- Loss of earning capacity. Loss of earning capacity may be available when your injuries result in disability that prevents you from working or impacts your ability to earn income in the future.
- Property damages. If your vehicle or other property was damaged or destroyed in the accident, you may be entitled to recover the costs of repairing or replacing it.
- Other expenses or losses incurred due to your accident and injuries. You may incur costs for needing to make modifications to your home or vehicle due to your injuries, or expenses for transportation to medical appointments, or need to pay for assistance to complete daily tasks you can no longer perform.
Non-economic damages are more challenging to prove because they are subjective. However, they are often even more devastating than economic damages. Non-economic damages may include:
- Pain and suffering. You may be entitled to recover compensation for your general suffering, pain, and discomfort now and in the future caused by your accident and injuries.
- Mental and emotional distress. Many injury victims suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other emotional or psychological injuries.
- Loss of enjoyment of life. You may be entitled to compensation for your inability to participate in life’s enjoyable activities the way you did in the past.
- Scarring and disfigurement. If you suffer permanent physical scars and disfigurement, you may be able to recover compensation for this damage.
- Loss of consortium. If you are married and your relationship has been impacted, such as by the loss of affection, intimacy, and companionship, you may be able to recover damages for loss of consortium.
- Other intangible losses incurred due to your accident and injuries.
At Meyers & Flowers Trial Attorneys, we often consult medical, economic, and other industry experts to help establish the existence and prove the current and future value of your damages, helping ensure you recover maximum compensation.
Schedule a Free Consultation to Discuss the Damages You May Be Entitled To Recover
If you have been injured in an accident caused by another party, you may be entitled to recover economic and non-economic damages. You need the help of an experienced and skilled Chicago personal injury attorney to help establish your damages and their value and to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
At Meyers & Flowers Trial Attorneys, we have the experience, skills, and resources to help you recover maximum economic and non-economic damages. Schedule a free consultation by calling (630) 576-0528 or by visiting our contact page now.