What Damages Are Awarded in A Personal Injury Claim?

Personal injury is one of the most frequent areas of law that cause individuals to seek advice from a solicitor. Civil action can be brought by an injured person against the entity responsible for their trauma to recover financial compensation for the losses suffered on account of the accident. Pursuing a lawsuit can be an option following an accident (car crash, slip and fall injury, dog bite, etc) if settlement negotiation isn’t working. Going to trial offers a better chance of recovering out-of-pocket costs. Damages is the term used to refer to the injuries sustained by harm from another party.

Damages Are Meant to Compensate the Injured Party for Their Loss

In a personal injury claim, damages refer to compensation, i.e., the payment the injured person receives following a successful verdict to cover expenses, loss, pain and suffering, and so forth. If you have been unfortunate enough to have been involved in a car accident or have been the victim of medical negligence, you may be able to secure damages. For more information, please visit https://www.howmuchcompensation.co.uk/. Damages are awarded to make amends for the value of the property that has been lost or damaged and the rights that have been grossly abused.

An award of damages is meant to establish the injured person in the same position as if nothing had ever happened. The exact amount of personal injury compensation is determined by a trial judge after having assessed the evidence and reached a decision regarding both issues of liability. Personal injury claims aren’t undertaken in front of a jury. The likelihood of proceeding to trial is very low as the case can be solved without the added expense and inconvenience of advancing through the court process. If the matter proceeds to a full trial, it’s necessary to provide evidence in support of your claim.

An Award for Personal Injury May Include Two Types of Damages

Damages are awarded in a personal injury case for the injured person’s expenses; they can become substantial if the victim suffers a serious injury. Most solicitors don’t take money upfront and only take a payment if they win the case, but they must be remunerated, and the amount they charge may be higher if you refuse to settle. Damages designate any amount of money awarded by the court to compensate the victim for their loss or damage as a result of a wrong for which the defendant is accountable. A personal injury damage award includes two types of damages: general and special.

General Damages

General damages represent an approach to providing monetary value for pain, suffering, and loss of amenity. Simply put, it compensates for the physical and/or mental pain resulting from the injury. For the sake of clarification, loss of amenity means a loss in quality of life and lifestyle that the injured person had to endure as a result of the injuries. For example, you might not be able to pursue certain hobbies. General damages are awarded for losses the law regards as inherent, plausible consequences of the wrong. Therefore, damages can be recovered without proof. Things like the intentional infliction of emotional distress don’t have a fixed cost.

Special Damages

Special damages are a non-negligible element of personal injury compensation for losses that aren’t presumed. The injured person is compensated for the defendant’s act of omission. Special damages don’t represent a fine or a penalty, as they’re restitution of the expenses incurred due to an injury caused by someone else’s negligence. Unlike general damages, special damages can be ascertained, meaning they have a set monetary cost. Examples of special damages include but aren’t limited to past and/or future medication and treatment costs, past and/or future loss of earnings, and past and/or future care assistance.

How Is Personal Injury Compensation Calculated?

Your solicitor is in the best position to inform you if your case is strong and you should settle or go to trial. Consult with a qualified legal professional before giving up your right to sue or accepting/refusing a settlement; once you’ve made a decision, there’s no going back. The award for general damages is based on the injury sustained, the duration of the symptoms, and the impact the injury has had on the victim’s life. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to calculate the pound value for the amount. The evaluation of general damages is subject to the trial judge’s opinion, and the victim’s suffering can be interpreted in different ways.

Calculating the award for special damages is relatively simple because precise pound amounts are associated with them. Whether or not you’ll be compensated depends on your ability to prove financial loss occurred because of the defendant’s wrongdoing. Suppose a person is liable for an accident. In that case, that person’s insurance company must pay the injured person for medical bills and associated expenses, missed time at work, and permanent physical disability/disfigurement. You’re entitled to full reimbursement for your out-of-pocket expenses, so keep records of all expenditures. For example, past medical expenses can be calculated by adding up your doctor’s bills.

Future Special Damages May Be Awarded If Reasonable Apprehension Exists

Special damages can include predicted future losses, so the injured person may be compensated for any future loss they’ll sustain, such as medical bills, lost earnings, and mental anguish, to name but a few. The extent of the casualties is established by expert proof, so it’s vital to identify ongoing needs and the possibility of future treatment that may be required. If reasonable apprehension exists, you must have a solid basis for future special damages. Maybe you’ve sustained injuries that prevent you from doing your job. In that case, an expert will demonstrate how your post-accident career prospects are bleak.

If your future has been crushed by injuries sustained in an accident as the result of the wrongful conduct of another person, it’s essential to contact a skilled solicitor. Only a legal professional can explain your options and work to secure the compensation you rightfully deserve for the present and the future. Even if the outcome of the accident is very unusual, you still have the right to seek compensation from the at-fault party.