Compensatory Damages In A Car Accident Case

By Author: Todd Miner
Total Articles: 2
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If you have been in an auto accident, you may be facing many financial pressures. Fortunately, these pressures can be alleviated by filing a personal injury lawsuit. Compensatory damages and punitive damages are the two main types of damages that you can recover through a personal injury lawsuit.
Compensatory damages are paid by the defendant to repay you and other indirect victims of the car accident (such as your spouse or children) for physical injuries, emotional injuries, and monetary costs caused by the accident. The damages caused usually affects you financially. On the other hand, punitive damages, also known as exemplary damages, are awarded by the court to punish the party responsible for your accident. This is to teach him/her a lesson in order to change his/her malicious or reckless behavior.
There are several different kinds of compensatory damages, including:
Physical disability
Disfigurement
Interest due from money withheld,
Loss of spouse's contribution to household,
Auto damage and rental car expenses,
Loss of wages or income, including overtime wages ...
... and earned sick and/or vacation time,
Emotional distress or trauma,
Pain and suffering, including depression, fear, grief, humiliation and/or nervousness,
Medical bills,
Loss of life's pleasures,
Mental disability or impairment,
Property damage (repair or replacement),
Loss or impairment of earning capacity,
Loss of affection (awarded your spouse).

You need to be very careful while filing your lawsuit and make sure that all applicable kinds of damages are included in the filing, because later on, you will be not able to file additional claims for damages that were left out.