When someone’s negligence causes your debilitating injury, you may worry about returning to work and paying your bills. Fortunately, your can turn to a personal injury law firm Denver CO to ensure you receive the damages you deserve.
Special Compensatory Damages
After an injury, you may be struggling with a significant financial burden due to medical care, loss of income, assistive equipment purchases, funeral expenses or property damage. You may receive reimbursement for your financial losses if you can prove that someone’s deliberate actions or negligence are responsible for harming you or your family. Copies of medical bills and receipts are essential for calculating the value of compensatory damages.
General Damages
General or non-economic damages are more challenging to calculate. Their purpose is to compensate victims and their families for pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, disability and loss of consortium and companionship.
Personal injury lawyers will gather evidence that conveys the degree to which an injury causes long-term or permanent consequences for their clients. Testimony from victims and those close to them about the accident’s effects can be decisive factors influencing the damages a jury might award if a case goes to trial. Personal injury lawyers may also seek testimony from expert witnesses, including medical doctors, physical therapists and psychologists, along with documents verifying treatment plans.
Punitive Damages
These damages are not common except in instances when a negligent party’s actions are especially egregious or when intentional behavior leads to an injury. Juries usually impose punitive damages on corporations, though occasionally they apply to individuals. The purpose of punitive damages is not to compensate victims but to serve as an example and deter similar behavior in the future. The state and the victim both receive a portion of the total award.
Personal injury attorneys have the experience necessary to determine the damages you should seek following your injury.