Personal injury damages are normally grouped into two categories: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages are the actual costs of the injury that can be calculated—or at least estimated—that have or will be paid by the victim, such as:
- Medical expenses. Victims should be reimbursed for medical costs, including out-of-pocket expenses, they already paid, as well as an amount to cover future medical costs related to the injury.
- Lost wages. If the victim was unable to work while recovering from the injury, or will be unable to perform the same job in the future, he or she may recover for the total amount of missed wages.
- Property damage. Victims can recover the losses of property and personal items, such as vehicle repairs, related to an injury.
- Increased cost of living. The law allows victims to recover many future costs and expenses related to the injury. For example, if your injury has caused limitations that prevent you from carrying out your normal family responsibilities—such as caring for children or performing yard work—you may reimbursed for the costs of paying someone to perform these domestic services.
In addition to economic losses, victims may also be owed non-economic damages, commonly referred to as “pain and suffering”. These damages are meant to compensate the victim and her family for costs that are difficult to calculate, such as the suffering of disfigurement, mental anguish, inconvenience, disability, or lost quality of life.
The amount recoverable for pain and suffering depends on how much the jury thinks the victim should receive, based on the facts of the case.
We Can Help You Develop a Strategy
If you suffered a severe injury due to negligence in Texas, an experienced personal injury attorney can calculate the potential amount of damages in your case, ensuring you and your family are protected well into the future.
Please fill out the contact form on this page to set up your initial case review. Your consultation is free, and we don’t charge anything unless we win your case.
