Car accidents are incredibly common, resulting in a total of roughly 46,000 lives per year in the U.S. And fatal accidents are just the very tip of the iceberg. Far more people are involved in accidents that lead to non-fatal physical injuries, some of which are fairly severe.
That being said, if you’ve been involved in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, recklessness or intentional action, this may be the first time you’ve experienced this reality. You know that their conduct violated your rights, but you may not know what type of compensation you are entitled to as a result. Let’s look at a few examples below.
Medical bills
First and foremost, if you were injured in the accident, you are likely going to have some medical bills. Perhaps you just got treatment on the scene from the EMTs. Maybe you had to spend months in the hospital doing rehabilitation. Either way, you can get compensation for bills that someone else caused.
Ongoing costs
Along with immediate medical costs, you’ll want to think about the ongoing bills that your injuries may incur. Physical rehabilitation, which was noted above, is one potential example. When considering a settlement, do not take an amount that won’t cover all of your future costs.
Lost wages and earning capacity
Your career may also be affected by a car accident. For one thing, if you spend time in the hospital, you could have lost wages from that time. Additionally, you may have suffered injuries that are going to hinder your ability to make money in the future. This could mean that you’ll need compensation for the reduction in your earning capacity, even if you are eventually able to return to work.
The above examples are three of the major types of compensation that individuals seek after a crash, but this is definitely not a complete list of all of your options. It’s important to carefully consider the legal steps you’ll need to take if you’ve recently been hurt as a result of another’s negligence, recklessness or intentionally dangerous conduct.