The Financial Impact of Personal Injuries and How to Recover
Lost wages, medical bills, and housing expenses may feel insurmountable following a personal injury or accident. Such financial distress can stall the healing process. While there is no denying the financial impact of a personal injury, the burden should lie with the at-fault party, not you. At HGSK Injury Lawyers, our legal team is committed to pursuing justice for personal injury victims such as yourself. If you or a family member has recently been involved in a personal injury or accident, our Allentown personal injury lawyers are here to assist you.
Types of Financial Losses Suffered by Personal Injury Victims
Personal injury victims may experience either financial (economic) or non-financial (non-economic) losses, or damages. Economic damages are any expenses that take money out of your bank account. Since they have a dollar amount attached, they are easily quantified. In contrast, non-economic damages are intangible losses that impact a person’s quality of life. Since there is no direct financial loss, non-economic damages are often more difficult to calculate.
By filing a personal injury suit, you seek compensation for these damages in order to become whole again. A personal injury attorney can provide guidance on what types of damages you are entitled to and the amount for each.
Common economic damages in an Allentown personal injury suit may involve:
- Lost wages
- Emergency room care
- Laboratory testing and/or medical imaging
- Surgeries or treatments
- Rehabilitative therapies, including physical therapy
- Medical equipment, including a wheelchair, crutches, walkers, or other mobility aids
- Home modifications
Common non-economic damages in an Allentown personal injury suit may involve:
- Pain and suffering
- Infliction of emotional distress
- Loss of companionship and society
- Disfigurement and/or scarring
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Inconvenience
- Permanent disability
In some situations, you may be entitled to punitive damages. Punitive damages apply if the wrongful party’s conduct is particularly egregious or if they display a general disregard for your safety. While there is typically no punitive damages cap in most personal injury cases, Pennsylvania law does impose a cap in medical malpractice suits. Under 40 P.S. Insurance §1303.505, you cannot recover more than twice the total compensatory damages (sum of total economic and non-economic damages) against a single healthcare provider. However, this does not apply in cases where the provider’s actions intentionally cause a patient harm.
Steps to Recover Maximum Compensation
Our Allentown personal injury attorneys advise taking the following steps to recover maximum damages:
Seek Medical Help
If you have sustained injuries following a personal injury or accident, you should seek medical intervention.
Call the Police
The state of Pennsylvania requires that you contact the police if you are involved in a motor vehicle accident that results in injuries, fatalities, or extensive property damage (to the point that a vehicle must be towed away from the scene).
Gather Evidence
If possible, take photographs of the scene of the incident. In a car accident, these may include vehicle wreckage, the final resting position of the vehicles, and your own injuries. If a bystander saw the event, get their name and contact information so that you can reach out to them later to testify.
Never Admit Fault
Even if you believe that one of your actions contributed to the accident, under no circumstances should you admit responsibility. By doing so, you potentially bar yourself from recovery.
Contact an Allentown Personal Injury Lawyer
A personal injury attorney can assess your situation as well as review your legal options. This may include negotiating a settlement or taking your case to court. While taking your case to court can potentially result in a larger award, it can be costly. Our legal team is motivated to negotiate an insurance settlement that meets your financial needs. However, if insurance repeatedly offers you low-ball settlements, we may suggest that you take your case to court (especially if the statute of limitations is running out).
Reach Out to Our Allentown Personal Injury Attorneys Today
Given the financial, physical, and emotional toll of a personal injury, aggressive representation is often a must. At HGSK Injury Lawyers, our Allentown personal injury attorneys have successfully advocated for numerous persons, helping them secure fair compensation. If you are interested in arranging a free consultation, do not hesitate to contact our Allentown office online or by phone at (267) 551-8782 today.