Getting involved in a car accident can be traumatic and frightening, and it may lead to both property damage and injuries. Accidents are quite common, with around 40,000 fatalities every year in the United States, but it also may be the first time that an individual has been through this process.
If you’ve been injured, you may find yourself wondering what you can seek compensation for from the other driver, who you believe was at fault for the crash. Perhaps they were tailgating, maybe they ran a red light or maybe they were a drunk driver. Regardless of why they are at fault, what damages should you consider?
Medical bills
For most people, the process begins with medical bills. This concludes the immediate costs of an ambulance and transportation to the hospital. They could also include things like treatment in the emergency room or a long-term hospital stay.
Future medical costs
Next, you need to consider if there will be more medical costs in the future that would also need to be covered. An example of this would be if you need to go to rehabilitation or take specific medications.
Lost wages
Additionally, after you have been injured in a car accident, you may have to miss time at work when you’re in the hospital. You can potentially seek compensation for the wages that you’re missing, even if you were only out of work for a day.
Lost future earnings
Finally, injuries can sometimes lead to lost earning capacity or lost future earnings, such as when someone’s injuries are so severe that they can’t ever return to work. This can be a bit more complicated to calculate, but may still be valid compensation.
If you have been injured in an accident and you’re considering compensation, make sure you know exactly what legal steps you should take.