Car crashes are often very serious. If you have been seriously injured, it can affect every aspect of your life. You may find it impossible to return to a normal life and enjoy hobbies that you used to pursue.
If you were not to blame for the accident, you may be able to claim compensation from the person responsible for your injuries. If you have suffered serious injuries you will need to think very carefully before filing a claim for compensation, as you will want to be compensated for the very aspects of your life that have been compromised by the accident.
A personal injury lawyer can help work out what sort of damages should be included in a personal injury claim and negotiate with the at-fault driver’s insurer on your behalf.
Damages You Should Claim After a Crash
There are several different types of damages that can be claimed in a personal injury claim. Broadly these are divided into two separate categories: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are the easier of the two to quantify. They include the cost of medical treatment, property damage, and loss of earnings. More difficult to quantify and in some states limited by caps are non-economic damages. The terms for these vary a little from state to state but typical include “pain and suffering” and “loss of enjoyment of life.” There may also be punitive damages involved if the degree of negligence that caused the accident can be proven to be particularly severe.
If you can no longer participate in the hobbies you once enjoyed, then this should be compensated for in your claim. It would be part of the non-economic damages claimed.
Why Consider a Lawyer?
Insurance adjusters rarely take the accident victim’s side. They are unlikely to treat a claim against one of their clients with sympathy. If your injuries have been so serious that they will have long term effects on your life and the life style you have become accustomed to, then this probably means that substantial amounts of money are involved in the claim. The greater the claim, the more reluctant will be the insurer to acknowledge liability.
You may find that the insurer will try and make a much smaller offer than you wanted. Unless you have a lawyer on your side, you may end up with a much smaller settlement tan you expected, or even no settlement at all.
Work With a PI Lawyer Today
If you have been seriously injured in a car crash and believe that the crash injuries are so severe that they will affect you permanently and affect your ability to enjoy things like hobbies, you should not attempt to negotiate a personal injury settlement all by yourself. Discuss the accident and the injuries with an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as your injuries and recovery allow you to do so.
Most PI lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, so there is no need to worry about upfront legal fees. If the lawyer takes on your case, no legal fees are normally necessary unless a settlement is reached in your favor.
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