Sustaining personal injuries due to the negligence of another party can be a traumatic and stressful experience. Indiana personal injury laws allow victims to sue for compensation for damages incurred from an injury caused by someone else’s fault. These damages can cover everything from medical expenses to lost wages, pain, and emotional distress.
If you’ve suffered injuries due to an accident, you may consider filing a personal injury lawsuit. It can help you recover compensation for the damages you’ve suffered. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the different types of damages you can sue for in Indiana personal injury cases.
Table of Contents
Economic Damages
Economic damages refer to the financial losses that result from an incident. These damages are calculable and verifiable and include:
Medical Expenses
Medical expenses cover the costs associated with treating a victim’s injuries. This can include hospitalization, surgery, emergency room fees, medical tests, and medications. Victims of personal injury claims can get the amount of compensation necessary to cover these expenses.
Lost Wages
When a person is unable to work due to their injury, they can seek compensation for lost wages. The payout can help compensate for the salary, promotion, or other benefits that the injured party would have earned if they hadn’t suffered the injury.
Future Wages
Victims of personal injury have the right to receive compensation for their potential future earnings if their injuries have left them unable to continue working in the same capacity.
Property Damage
If a person’s property is damaged as a result of someone else’s actions, the victim may be entitled to compensation to fix the damage.
Non-Economic Damages
In contrast to economic damages, non-economic damages are subjective in nature. They refer to losses that are difficult to quantify, such as:
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering refer to the physical discomfort and discomfort caused by an injury. This includes the stress the victim endures and other intangible injuries.
Emotional Distress
Emotional distress refers to the psychological suffering a victim may endure, such as anxiety, depression, and fear. These effects can last a lifetime and severely impact the victim’s overall quality of life.
Loss of Consortium and Companionship
When a victim suffers extreme injuries, they may no longer be able to maintain a relationship with their spouse or other loved ones. In such cases, the victim can sue for compensation for the loss of love, companionship, and support that they would have received.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are awarded in personal injury cases to punish the negligent party and deter future wrongful behavior. Indiana has a cap on the amount of punitive damages a person can receive- this cap is three times the amount awarded to the victim for compensatory damages.
Conclusion
Filing a personal injury lawsuit can help you recover compensation for the damages incurred due to another party’s negligence. If you or someone you love has suffered a personal injury, it’s essential to understand your rights and options under Indiana personal injury laws. By working with an experienced personal injury attorney, you can increase your chances of receiving fair compensation. Remember that the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim in Indiana is two years from the date of the accident.