Beyond Medical Bills: Other Damages You Can Claim for After a Car Accident

Car accidents are traumatic events you hope you never experience. But the roads are busy, and accidents happen every day, varying from minor incidents to major crashes. If you’ve recently been involved in an accident on the road, you’ll have a lot to deal with afterwards. Of course, you’ve got to recover physically and emotionally. But, you also have to start your car accident claim if you weren’t at fault.

Did you know that there is a lot of damage you can claim for in an accident that wasn’t caused by your driving? While people are familiar with recovering medical bills, they don’t realise the host of other things you can claim for. Let’s take a closer look at what they are.

Non-Medical Damages Explained

Alright, let’s break it down. Non-medical damages go beyond the immediate medical costs of private healthcare and tackle other aspects of your life post-accident. Think of it as a way to address the ripple effects beyond the physical.

Pain and Suffering

Have you ever heard of pain and suffering? It’s not just a phrase; it’s a compensable damage. We’re talking about the emotional and physical toll the accident took on you. The tricky part? It’s subjective, but it’s worth exploring. In other words, if you’ve been traumatically affected by what happened on the road, you can recover damages. Perhaps you’ve now got anxiety that’s keeping you awake at night, or you’re having to seek counselling to process the trauma. If you’ve had to pay out for something, this can help to prove your pain and suffering.

Emotional Distress

Anxiety, depression, PTSD – these are not just words; they are real, and they can be claimed for. Your emotional well-being matters, and so does the toll the accident took on your mental health. This is similar to pain and suffering. You’ll need to prove that you’ve been in emotional distress. For example, if you’ve been paying for therapy as a result of the accident, it might be possible to recover these costs. If you want assistance with your case, contact rta claims. They have an experienced team that understands the process and the ways to secure you the best compensation.

Loss of Consortium

The accident may have impacted your relationships. Enter loss of consortium – a way to claim for the strain it put on your companionships. It’s not just about you; it’s about the people around you too.

Loss of Enjoyment of Life

Remember those things you loved doing before the accident? What if you can’t do them the same way anymore? That’s where the loss of enjoyment of life comes in. This is something that’s worth exploring since the car could have negatively impacted what you do on a daily basis.

Lost Wages and Future Earning Capacity

Unable to work after the accident? Lost wages are on the table. For example, if you’ve had to take more time off work beyond sick pay, this is going to be reclaimable from the accident if it wasn’t your fault.

But what about the future? Know that your future earning capacity can factor into your compensation. For instance, if your injuries mean that you won’t be able to work for several months or you can’t work again, this can be claimed. You’ll need to provide evidence that this is the case.

Don’t forget to factor in the cost of travelling to medical appointments and other treatments you’re using. For instance, you might be able to recover the costs of taxi rides to and from the hospital and to therapy sessions.

Key Considerations When Claiming Non-Medical Damages

Hold up – before you dive into the paperwork, we’ve got some advice. Thorough documentation and evidence are your allies when claiming non-medical damages. And, of course, it doesn’t hurt to have legal counsel by your side. You must prove that the accident will lead to these things in order to claim for them, or you’ve already had to pay out for services. Indeed, it helps to have an expert with experience on your side. They’ll be able to help you prove your case and negotiate for the best deal.

Conclusion

Time to wrap it up. The takeaway: when it comes to car accidents, don’t just focus on medical bills. Consider the full spectrum of damages and, when in doubt, seek professional advice. There are various claims you can make since the accident wasn’t your fault. This can help you recover emotionally and financially from what happened to you.