Getting involved in a personal injury case can be a tough experience to go through. It can be a traumatic event that could potentially have long-term adverse effects on your life. Fortunately, the law provides you with legal remedies for recovery of damages that you might have suffered during the incident. In Arkansas, you are entitled to recover different types of damages, ranging from economic, non-economic, and punitive damages. In this article, we discuss the different types of damages that can be recovered in Arkansas.
Table of Contents
Economic Damages
Economic damages refer to the financial losses you incurred as a result of the accident. These losses are easy to quantify, and you can effectively calculate their cost. Economic damages could include:
Medical Expenses
If you have sustained injuries in an accident, you are entitled to recover damages for the medical expenses incurred. These include compensation for the cost of treatment, including hospital bills, doctor consultation fees, surgical procedures, medications, and other medical expenses. The amount of compensation you receive for medical expenses will depend on the nature and extent of the injuries sustained.
Lost Income
If your injuries cause you to miss work while you recover, you may be entitled to lost income. This compensation can cover the wages you lost while recovering or for the time you spent out of work. In cases where you cannot return to work, your lost wages damages will cover your loss of future earning capacity.
Property Damage
If your vehicle or personal property is damaged during the accident, you may be entitled to compensation for the cost of repairs or replacement of the damaged property. Even if your property cannot be repaired or replaced, you might be entitled to receive the damages’ fair market value.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are not easy to quantify since they are subjective and vary from person to person. These damages are also known as pain and suffering or general damages. Non-economic damages could include:
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering damages refer to the physical and emotional distress sustained by an accident victim, such as:
- Physical pain
- Mental suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement and physical impairment
- Diminished quality of life
Loss of Consortium
If you suffer from a severe injury, you may be entitled to compensation damages known as "loss of consortium." This term refers to the loss of a relationship with a spouse or child related to the injuries that you sustained as a result of the accident.
Emotional Distress
Emotional distress damages are awarded to an individual who experiences emotional or psychological pain or trauma due to the accident. This could include anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other psychological conditions.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are awarded to punish the defendant and deter similar future behavior. These damages are only awarded in extremely rare cases when the defendant acted with complete recklessness or intentional disregard for the safety of others.
Conclusion
Getting involved in a personal injury case in Arkansas can be a complicated and overwhelming process. Filing a personal injury case can be the right step to take to get compensation for the damages you have incurred. The type of damages that you may recover depends on the nature of the damages you suffered. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you determine the damages to pursue and the maximum compensation you may be entitled to receive. Contact a reputable personal injury attorney today to explore your legal options.