What Can I Sue for in a Personal Injury Case?

Oct 28, 2022

You are driving safely on the road when a distracted driver t-bones your vehicle. As a result of the collision, you suffer serious bodily injuries including facial lacerations, a concussion, a broken arm, and a bruised rib. You are forced to spend weeks rehabilitating from your injuries and miss a significant amount of time from your job. As a result, you are left damaged both physically and financially.

In this situation, it makes sense to speak to an experienced Indiana car accident lawyer to discuss your legal options. You may be able to pursue monetary damages for your harms and losses.

Types of Damages You Can Recover Through a Personal Injury Claim

Medical Bills – In general, medical costs are the first category of what are known as “compensatory” damages. The idea behind compensatory damages is that a wrong has occurred that requires some type of compensation. Most damages are compensatory damages. If you are injured, the responsible party will be held responsible for paying your medical bills such as surgery costs, the price of ambulance rides, and physical therapy.

Lost Wages and Earning Capacity – Economic compensatory damages exist as well. If you are injured and are unable to work either temporarily or permanently, you may be able to receive compensation for your lost wages.

Pain and Suffering Damages – This is the broadest category of compensatory damages in personal injury claims. Pain and suffering is essentially an umbrella term for anything that happened in the accident that the negligent driver should be required to compensate the victim for. Often, this is literally for pain that was caused. It could also mean causing crippling disabilities or other mental trauma.

Punitive Damages – Unlike compensatory damages, punitive damages are specifically designed to deter and punish defendants from taking actions that the judge deems reprehensible. Normally, punitive damages are not available unless something really terrible happened.

Emotional Damages – Another special category of damages, emotional damages are only available under specific circumstances. Fear that has resulted in recurring nightmares or psychological stress is the most common example. So-called “bystander” emotional damages are also available when a person witnesses the tragic death of a loved one, which causes emotional stress.

If you have any additional questions about personal injury damages in Indiana, you should contact a local personal injury attorney to help answer any inquiries you may have. Many Indiana car accident lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing up front and only pay your lawyer when they have obtained a settlement or verdict for you.

Indiana Personal Injury Lawyer Ready and Able to Represent You

The legal team at Tanzillo Stassin & Babcock, P.C. is ready to help you and your family. We understand how to take on the big auto insurance companies and secure maximum compensation for you. Contact our office to schedule a free case review with a dedicated personal injury attorney so we can get to work on your case.