Determining how much your car accident injuries are worth is a bit of a challenge since each case is different. However, there are a few general knowledge guidelines you can follow to create an initial assessment of your car accident injury. Car accident civil courts allow you to file a claim for your physical, cognitive, and financial losses.
It is essential to name the right amount for which you are seeking in court for your car accident injury since the closing of your case generally bars you from filing a claim ever again. Therefore, you may want to speak with a California car accident lawyer to help you figure out what this number is while litigating your case in a court of law.
If you or a family member endured injuries or experienced loss of life after a car accident, speaking with a Los Angeles car accident lawyer will help you understand your opportunities for redress. He or she also provides the necessary legal counsel throughout the process while asserting your rights in court.
Types of Compensation Available for a California Car Accident Injury Claim
In the State of California, we generally file car accident injury claims as personal injury, wrongful death, and product liability. While these claims carry various statutes of limitation—or deadlines—to file a case, there are general claims available for many within the context of financial compensation.
The civil court refers to the amount of compensation you are requesting as damages. In general, the three types of damage requests are economic, non-economic, and punitive damages.
If you experienced injuries or your loved one lost his or her life, you can file a claim for the following types:
Economic Damages
Economic damages are your measurable financial losses. These are easier to estimate since it is a total of your medical bills and related expenses for your injuries.
The most common types of economic damage requests include:
- Past medical expenses
- Future medical costs
- Prescription expenses
- Travel to doctors’ appointments
- Prosthetics and medical devices
- Physical and psychological therapy
- Modifications to your home or car
- Lost benefits
- Lost wages
- Burial or cremation expenses (in wrongful death claims)
- Property damage to your car
- Hospice and long-term care
- Occupational and vocational rehabilitation
- Lost future earning capacity
In short, any necessary medical and related care costs are on-the-table to list in your petition. Keeping track of your receipts, bills, and invoices are critical for proving your damages. There is no cap on the amount you can receive under California law, so as long as a judge deems them a necessity and lawful.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are more challenging to determine since they seek to address the injuries that one cannot examine using a scientific test. It refers to your cognitive and emotional losses from your car accident injuries or the death of a family member.
The most common forms of non-economic damage requests in Los Angeles include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional anguish
- Loss of enjoyment
- Loss of life, or wrongful death
- Loss of companionship
- Depression
- Anxiety
- And more
Your Los Angeles car accident lawyer has a keen understanding of proving your non-economic damages claim. California currently caps non-economic damages at $250,000.
Punitive Damages
Courts do not readily award punitive damages since they reserve them for parties who endured gross negligence. It is a type of award that a civil court judge can render to “punish” and send a clear message to your detractor. California caps punitive damage caps do not have a limit.
Final Thoughts and Considerations
Going up against an insurance company alone in court is intimidating. They keep a team of attorneys in-house or on retainer to fight car accident injury claims. Unfortunately, insurers view going to court as par-for-the-course when conducting business.
You do not have to let them get away by detracting from the heart of your claim. Working with an experienced and prepared California car accident lawyer is one way that you can receive the guidance of legal counsel while ensuring you are uncovering every opportunity for compensation, like the forms mentioned in this blog post.
Plus, if an attorney takes your case on a contingency-fee-basis, you do not have to fund your initial lawsuit and litigation proceedings. California car accident contingency-fee lawyers only receive payment when you win your case.
Call Kirakosian Law APC for an Initial Consultation Today
The legal team at Kirakosian Law APC extends a friendly invitation to discuss your case with us. Information shared during your initial consultation is completely private. It will also provide you with a solid starting point when trying to understand your options.
Let our Los Angeles car accident lawyers demonstrate how we will work to get you the compensation you need. Contact our injury law firm in Los Angeles by calling us at 213-986-5389 or submitting a request through our online contact form today.
These blogs are meant purely for educational purposes. They contain only general information about legal matters. They are not legal advice, and should not be treated as such. If you have any specific questions about any legal matter you should consult with an attorney.