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Getting into a car crash can be a life-altering event for many reasons. Your health and safety are the immediate concern, but once everyone involved is deemed okay, it's time to assess damages. However, calculating the damages caused by an accident can actually be quite tricky, and you may even need to contact a car accident lawyer to take legal action. Understanding all of the compensation you're entitled to is key to ensuring that you’re duly compensated after an accident. So what exactly is considered a part of the damages in a car accident? Here’s how damages are assessed in car crashes.
Damage to the Vehicle and Its Contents
The most obvious part of the damage calculations comes from the damage that your vehicle sustained. Your vehicle is your property, so if another party is liable for the damages caused by an accident, then they will have to pay for repairs. Car accidents can do lots of damage to a vehicle, putting them out of commission for a considerable amount of time and costing several thousands of dollars in repairs. Not only can you be compensated for the repairs your vehicle needs, but you could also be eligible to be compensated for any rental car that you may need to pay for while your vehicle is out of commission. Finally, any personal property inside of your vehicle that was damaged could also result in you receiving compensation. For example, if a car accident damages a phone or laptop that was in your car, then you could be eligible to receive reimbursement for that as well.
Medical Expenses
One of the highest costs you’ll likely face as a victim of a car accident is medical expenses. These costs include all medical treatment you receive, including surgeries, doctor’s appointments, prescription medications, and physical therapy. Car accidents can be quite serious and can do a lot of damage to your physical health. In extreme scenarios, you may have a medical bill that has thousands of dollars worth of treatments on it. You shouldn’t have to pay those bills by yourself if the other party is liable for the accident, so your medical expenses will be calculated into the overall damages caused. If you want full compensation, ensure that you track all of the treatment you receive for injuries relating to the car accident.
Lost Wages
When you suffer an injury from a car accident, you may be unable to work for a period of time. Some accidents may only cause you to miss a few days, while serious accidents could sideline you from working for several months. The amount of time you miss from work will likely be dependent on how serious the accident was and how physically demanding your job is. However, if another party is liable for the accident’s damages, you could be eligible to receive compensation for your lost wages. This can be a huge help since you won't provide for yourself and your family if you are unable to work. Lost wage compensation is designed to replace the money you lost from missing work, meaning you won’t have to worry about finances as you recover from the accident.
Pain and Suffering
When you are in a car accident, not all damages can be easily quantified. One of the hardest types of damage to put a number on is pain and suffering. Pain and suffering can cover a lot of topics, including both physical and mental pain. An auto accident victim may have chronic issues that stem from the car accident, greatly reducing their overall quality of life. Alternatively, an auto accident victim may suffer from things such as PTSD or increased anxiety while driving, something that can greatly limit their ability to get out and enjoy life. These types of issues and their treatments can be factored into the overall damage calculations and result in you receiving compensation for your pain and suffering. Putting a number on the pain you feel, or your damaged mental health can be quite difficult, but at least you’ll receive some form of compensation to assuage your pain.