When you are in a car accident, you could sustain injuries and damages that add up to be a significant amount of money. In addition, a car accident can have a considerable effect on your daily life.
The damages you can collect for a car accident depend on your injuries and their impact on your life. In general, the potentially recoverable damages in a car accident case may include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Property damage
- Domestic services
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Wrongful death damages
Each car accident is different, and each person in a car accident may be affected differently. A car accident lawyer may be able to help you determine what kind of compensation you may be entitled to.
Damages You May Be Able to Collect
According to the California Civil Code (CIV) §1431.2, you are able to request compensation for economic or noneconomic damages in a personal injury claim in California. These damages may include:
Current and Future Medical Expenses
The cost of medical bills can take anyone by surprise. Your medical expenses may include emergency room treatment, diagnostic tests, hospitalization, and other treatments. On top of these costs, you may also have to pay for medication and physical therapy.
You may receive compensation for your current and future costs of accident-related medical care. To prove your medical expenses, retain any medical bills or documentation of your injuries.
Property Damage
If your vehicle was damaged in a car accident, you could fight to get compensation for the cost of repairs to your vehicle. Although if your vehicle cannot be repaired and you need a replacement vehicle, you may receive compensation for the cost of purchasing an equivalent vehicle.
To prove your property damages, you can provide a mechanic’s statement and photographs of the damage. If you had any other property damaged during the car accident, you might also be compensated for this damage.
Domestic Services
A car accident can completely turn your life upside down. If you sustain serious injuries, you might be unable to take care of your normal household duties. You might have to bring in outside help in order to properly maintain your household chores, such as doing the dishes, washing laundry, cooking meals, cleaning, and yard work.
If your injuries required you to purchase such domestic services, you might be able to recover compensation for these expenses.
Pain and Suffering
A car accident injury can change your daily life. Pain and suffering can include any physical or mental pain you went through as a result of your car accident. While pain and suffering can be difficult to put a price on, a lawyer can work with you to determine fair compensation. To do this, they can look at the accident’s severity and the effect it had on your life.
Lost Wages
When you are in a car accident, you might have to miss time from work. You could miss work while receiving treatments for your injuries or during your recovery from your injuries.
However, you can recover compensation for any income you lost due to the accident. Pay stubs from before your accident or other work-related documents can prove these losses.
Wrongful Death Damages
If your loved one died as a result of a car accident, you might be able to recover a different set of damages in a wrongful death claim. These damages may include funeral costs, pre-death medical care, or the loss of companionship you suffered from the accident.
Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices Can Help You Identify Your Damage
If you suffered injuries in a car accident caused by someone else, you might receive compensation for your damages. A car accident lawyer in Los Angeles from the Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices may be able to help you:
- Identify your damages
- Collect evidence of their value
- Request compensation in an insurance claim or lawsuit
We may be able to help you fight for compensation as long as you are within the allowed timeframe to sue. According to the California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) §335.1, you generally have two years after your accident to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit in California.
For a free consultation on your case with a team member, call the Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices today at (866) 559-7223. We can discuss your injuries, your legal options, and what damages you may be able to collect for your car accident during this call.