What are the Different Types of Damages Sustained in a Car Accident in Stockton?
Car accidents can cause serious injuries and even death, but not every accident incurs damage. In most cases, moderate to minor injuries are sustained by one or more parties involved in the car accident. It is important for victims of car accidents to know what types of damages may be incurred due to their driving duties or when insurance claims are filed for causing a car accident. This type of knowledge can help people decide whether they will take legal action against an at-fault driver, the driver’s insurance company, or both.
A Stockton car accident attorney can help you understand more about damages caused in a car accident. Therefore, it is necessary to hire a lawyer and understand the damages that occurred in the car accident that are compensable.
For now, let us see the main types of damages sustained in a car accident in Stockton.
- Economic damages
Economic damages are those that might be incurred by the victim based on personal mistakes, such as owing a personal injury attorney or paying medical bills. There are also types of economic damages that are not directly related to finances but can still be significant. For example, lost wages and pain and suffering during the time after an accident is often compensated.
These damages can be the result of several factors. If there is personal injury, the injured party may incur large medical bills due to injury and present or future treatment. The costs of medical care are often one-time expenses, but lost wages can be both short and long term.
- Non-economic damages
Non-economic damages may also be compensated, including pain and suffering and emotional distress. Pain and suffering refer to physical injury while emotional distress refers to mental anguish caused by the accident or being in an accident in general. This is different from pain and suffering because the distress is not caused by a physical injury.
In some cases, non-economic damages cannot be compensated through car insurance. This can include pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress that are not related to a physical injury or death.
- Punitive damages
Punitive damages may also be compensated in a car accident. These damages are awarded against the defendant’s at-fault driver if the injuries were caused by intentional actions or negligence that was very reckless. If a driver is found to have been driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, punitive damages are often necessary in order to punish the driver for their actions.