Dealing with any kind of personal injury case can be stressful. Even minor injuries can hurt your ability to work and leave you saddled with costly medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses. Filing a lawsuit against the responsible party can help you get the money you need to focus on your recovery. There are two types of damages that your Chicago personal injury attorney may want to pursue in your case. Here’s what you need to know.
What Are Economic Damages?
Think of economic damages as the tangible or measurable expenses you incur directly because of your injury. These are the costs that come with receipts, bills, or clear documentation proving a monetary loss. The goal of pursuing economic damages is to compensate you for the money you’ve lost or had to spend due to the incident.
Examples of Economic Damages
Here are some common examples of economic damages pursued in Chicago personal injury claims:
- Medical expenses: This includes costs for emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, doctor’s appointments, physical therapy, medication, medical equipment (like crutches or wheelchairs), and even anticipated future medical care related to the injury.
- Lost wages: This includes salary, hourly wages, bonuses, and commissions you would have otherwise earned had your injury not kept you from working.
- Loss of earning capacity: If the injury results in a long-term or permanent disability that prevents you from returning to your previous job or affects your ability to earn money in the future, you may be compensated for your loss of earning capacity.
- Property damage: In cases like car accidents, this covers the cost of repairing or replacing your damaged vehicle or other personal property.
- Other out-of-pocket expenses: This can include costs like transportation to medical appointments, necessary home modifications (like ramps or grab bars), or hiring help for household tasks you can no longer perform.
What Are Non-Economic Damages?
Non-economic damages compensate you for the intangible, non-monetary consequences of your injury. These losses are subjective and are based on how the injury has impacted your quality of life, well-being, and personal experience.
Calculating non-economic damages is more complex, often relying on the severity of the injury, the impact on your daily life, and the expected duration of the effects of your injury. Importantly, Illinois currently does not place caps on compensatory non-economic damages in most personal injury cases, meaning the amount awarded is generally determined by the specifics of the case and the judgment of the court or jury, rather than a predetermined legal limit.
Examples of Non-Economic Damages
Here are common examples of non-economic damages sought in Chicago injury cases:
- Pain and suffering: This covers compensation for the physical pain, discomfort, and general suffering experienced due to the injury, both at the time of the incident and into the future.
- Emotional distress: This covers the psychological impact, such as fear, anxiety, depression, PTSD, sleep disturbances, or humiliation resulting from the injury or the traumatic event.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: This compensates you for the inability to participate in hobbies, social activities, recreational pursuits, or daily routines that you previously enjoyed before the injury.
- Disfigurement and scarring: This covers compensation for permanent physical alterations, scars, or disfigurement caused by the injury, which can impact self-esteem and body image.
- Loss of consortium: This relates to the negative impact the injury has had on the marital relationship, including loss of companionship, affection, and intimacy. It reflects the non-economic harm to the relationship itself.
Speak With a Chicago Personal Injury Attorney
Figuring out which type of damages to pursue in your personal injury case can be a difficult choice, especially since you’re often able to pursue both economic and non-economic damages. The best way to figure out which types of compensation you may be eligible for is to speak with an experienced Chicago personal injury attorney. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.