If you’ve been injured due to the negligence of someone else, you may be entitled to damages for things like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. But what types of damages are available in Utah personal injury cases? In this article, we’ll explain the various types of damages you may be able to recover in a Utah personal injury case.
Table of Contents
Economic Damages
The first type of damages you may be able to recover are economic damages. Economic damages are meant to compensate you for any financial losses you have suffered as a result of your injury. There are three types of economic damages:
Medical Expenses
Medical expenses include any costs associated with getting medical treatment for your injury. This could include things like hospital bills, doctor’s fees, prescription medication costs, physical therapy, and any other medical expenses you’ve incurred as a result of your injury.
Lost Wages
Lost wages refer to any income you have lost as a result of your injury. This could include lost wages from time spent in the hospital or rehabilitation, as well as any future lost wages if you are unable to return to work due to your injury.
Property Damage
If your personal property was damaged in the accident that led to your injury, you may be able to recover the costs of repairing or replacing it. This could include things like damage to your car or any other personal property you had with you at the time of the accident.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are meant to compensate you for any non-financial losses you have suffered as a result of your injury. There are two types of non-economic damages:
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering refer to the physical and emotional distress you have experienced as a result of your injury. This could include things like chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Loss of Consortium
Loss of consortium refers to the loss of companionship, love, and affection you have suffered as a result of your injury. This type of damage is usually only available to spouses of the injured person.
Punitive Damages
In some cases, the court may award punitive damages in addition to economic and non-economic damages. Punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant for particularly egregious conduct and to deter others from engaging in similar conduct in the future. However, in Utah, punitive damages are only available in cases where the defendant’s conduct was intentional or reckless.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you’ve been injured due to the negligence of someone else in Utah, you may be entitled to various types of damages, including economic damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage, as well as non-economic damages for pain and suffering and loss of consortium. In certain cases, the court may also award punitive damages. If you believe you may have a personal injury case and want to know more about the damages you may be able to recover, it’s best to consult with an experienced Utah personal injury attorney.