What Are Non-Economic Damages?

Most drivers fear the possibility of a serious injury accident. A serious injury can significantly affect your health and your pocketbook. Medical bills and other expenses will pile up. Moreover, you likely have hidden damages after your accident, like pain and suffering.

These costs are usually too much for people to manage on their own, so it becomes necessary to file a claim or lawsuit to recover their economic and non-economic damages. Non-economic damages can be a significant portion of your compensation in a personal injury case. 

If you have legal questions, make sure to speak to an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

Types of Damages Available in Personal Injury Cases

Legal damages refer to the money that someone can recover after suffering injuries in an accident. 

There are three main types of damages available in personal injury cases: 

  • Economic damages refer to the out-of-pocket costs and expenses of an accident. Economic damages can include things such as medical expenses, property damage, and lost wages. Economic damages generally cover any direct expense of an accident
  • Non-economic damages refer to the long-term personal and emotional costs of an accident. Non-economic damages compensate for an injury victim’s significant life changes or suffering following an accident.
  • Punitive damages are rare. Judges and juries award punitive damages to punish a defendant for shocking or outrageous conduct. Economic and non-economic damages are meant to compensate a victim for their injuries and expenses, while punitive damages punish the responsible party. Punitive damages are awarded to deter future similar conduct from the responsible party or anyone else.

You may be eligible for one or all three of these types of damages, depending on the facts and circumstances in your case. Make sure you have an attorney evaluate your case to calculate the full extent of your damages.

Common Types of Non-Economic Damages

Florida personal injury victims might be eligible for several forms of non-economic damages, including:

Other long-term effects of an accident can also result in a non-economic damage award. These damages can result in significant payouts to compensate for the long-term effects of an accident. If you have suffered a permanent or severe injury in an accident, then you might qualify for non-economic damages.

How Courts Determine the Proper Amount of Non-Economic Damages

A court or insurance company will examine several factors to determine if non-economic damages are appropriate.

Some examples of circumstances that can lead to a non-economic damage award include:

  • The accident victim is unable to enjoy time with their spouse or children
  • The accident victim is unable to participate in daily household activities
  • The accident victim is suffering major inconveniences due to their injury
  • The accident victim faces humiliation or embarrassment due to their injuries

These are just some reasons why a court or jury will award non-economic damages following a serious accident. Various formulas are used to try to determine how much non-economic damages should be awarded in a given case. 

If you are curious about what non-economic damages might be available for you, it is important to have your case evaluated by an experienced attorney. 

How Do I Know If I Qualify for Non-Economic Damages?

Accident victims qualify for non-economic damages when their injuries lead to long-term effects. The collateral consequences of a serious accident can be debilitating and costly. Pain and suffering and mental anguish are also things that can result in a non-economic damage award. 

If you are suffering serious and long-term effects from an accident, then your case might qualify for non-economic damage recovery. To find out how much your case is worth, call us at Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers to help!

If you have been hurt in a serious accident, then you are likely wondering what happens next. Contact our Tampa personal injury lawyers for a free consultation to get a full understanding of your case and the claims process. To schedule your appointment with one of our experienced attorneys at Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers, call us at (813) 222-8656 or contact our law office in Tampa online today.