A sudden accident may leave you or a loved one with a personal injury. When seeking compensation from the at-fault party, you will have to calculate and prove your damages.
Without understanding the laws regarding damages, you could miss out on getting the full amount you are due. In Georgia, these damages generally fall into two main categories.
Economic damages
Economic damages cover tangible losses you experienced because of the injury. These often start with medical expenses related to your treatment, such as hospital bills, doctor’s visits, medications, and physical therapy. Keep all receipts and invoices to accurately calculate these expenses.
If your injury requires ongoing treatment or therapy, you can include these future costs as well. Estimates from medical professionals can help determine these expenses.
If your injury caused you to miss work, you can also claim compensation for the income you lost. This includes not only your salary but also any bonuses or benefits you would have received. To calculate this, gather pay stubs and documentation showing the days you missed work.
Noneconomic damages
Noneconomic damages are more subjective and cover intangible losses that aren’t as easy to quantify. For example, you can claim a monetary value for the physical and emotional pain you endured as a result of your injury. A common name for this is “pain and suffering.” While these are harder to measure, you can document your suffering through medical records, personal journals, and testimony from family and friends.
If your injury has affected your ability to enjoy daily activities or hobbies, you may have a right to compensation for the loss of enjoyment of life. Emotional distress damages cover the psychological impact of your injury, such as anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues. Evidence of treatment for emotional distress and testimony about how the injury has affected your mental well-being can help in tallying these damages.
The total compensation you can claim equals the sum of your economic and noneconomic damages. Each case is unique, so the final amount will reflect the specific impacts on your life. Instead of trying to figure out the number by looking at averages, you often do better to work with a professional who can help you uncover every last cent.