In Minnesota, if you have suffered injuries or damages as a result of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to recover compensation through a personal injury claim. A personal injury claim can be a complex legal process, but if you successfully prove your case, you may be able to recover various types of damages to cover the costs of your injuries and losses.
This article covers the different types of damages that are recoverable in a personal injury claim in Minnesota.
Table of Contents
Economic Damages
Economic damages are those damages that can be directly tied to monetary losses as a result of the injury. They are also known as special damages or out-of-pocket losses.
Medical Expenses
If you have been injured in an accident, one of the most significant damages you may suffer is medical expenses. In Minnesota, you can recover compensation for any past and future medical expenses that are reasonable and necessary to treat your injuries. Medical expenses may include the cost of emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, medication, medical equipment, and any other healthcare-related expenses.
Lost Wages
If your injuries prevent you from working, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your lost wages. Lost wages include any income you lost while recovering from your injuries, as well as any future income you will lose because of your injuries. In addition, you may also recover compensation for any loss of earning capacity, which is the reduction in your ability to earn a living as a result of your injuries.
Property Damage
If you suffered any property damage as a result of the accident, you may be entitled to recover compensation for the cost of repairing or replacing your property.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are those damages that cannot be easily measured in monetary terms. They are also known as general damages or subjective losses.
Pain and Suffering
One of the most common non-economic damages in a personal injury claim is pain and suffering. Pain and suffering compensation is meant to compensate you for the physical pain and emotional distress you suffered as a result of the accident. The amount of pain and suffering damages you may recover will depend on the nature and severity of your injuries.
Emotional Distress
Emotional distress damages are meant to compensate you for any psychological harm you suffered as a result of the accident. Emotional distress can include anxiety, depression, fear, insomnia, and other mental health issues.
Loss of Consortium
If your injuries have affected your ability to maintain normal marital relations or companionship with your spouse or significant other, you may be entitled to recover compensation for loss of consortium.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are damages that are awarded to punish the defendant for their behavior, rather than compensate the plaintiff for their losses. Punitive damages are only awarded in cases where the defendant’s behavior was particularly reckless or egregious.
Conclusion
If you have been injured in an accident in Minnesota, you may be entitled to recover various types of damages through a personal injury claim. These damages may include economic damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage, as well as non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium. In extreme cases, you may also be awarded punitive damages to punish the defendant for their actions. To determine the types of damages that you may be entitled to recover, it is best to speak to an experienced personal injury attorney.