When a victim suffers an injury in an accident caused by another party’s negligence, Tennessee law allows that victim to pursue a personal injury claim or lawsuit against that party. Depending on the extent of the injuries, the victim may end up with overwhelming financial difficulties. A lawsuit allows the victim to recover damages for all the expenses they have sustained from the injuries. A personal injury lawyer in Memphis, TN can explain what your legal options are and help you get the compensation you may be entitled to.
Who is liable for an accident victim’s medical expenses?
One of the largest damages financially a victim may have are all the medical expenses that have been incurred to treat their injuries. Even if a person has medical insurance, it is rare that all of their medical bills would be covered. The more serious the injury, the more medical bills the victim has. However, the law says that the victim is able to include any medical expenses that have resulted from their injuries, including hospital stays, doctor visits, surgeries, diagnostic testing, medication, rehabilitation, and medical equipment and devices. Victims may also be able to include travel expenses for getting back and forth to all of these appointments.
What about all the income I lost because I was unable to work while I recovered from my injuries?
In many personal injury cases, the victim’s injuries leave them unable to work while they recover. They may need to use vacation days and sick days. In many cases, when the injuries are more serious, a Memphis, TN personal injury lawyer knows that victim exhausts their days off and have no income coming in while they are recovering. If you are in this situation, you can claim expenses for the wages you have missed. This also includes the loss of future wages if you are left with a permanent disability.
Are there other damages that I can include in my lawsuit?
There are other losses victims suffer that do not have a dollar amount, yet they are losses that the victim is entitled to financial compensation for. This includes compensation for pain and suffering they endure from the injuries and how it effected their quality of life.
Many victims are also left with emotional issues after a serious accident. There may be issues as a direct result of the crash, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as the emotional impact the injuries have on the victim. The victim may suffer from anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and more. Any mental health counseling costs can be included in the victim’s lawsuit, as well as compensation for the struggles they are dealing with.
Other non-economic damages that can be included in a personal injury lawsuit are compensation for scarring, disfigurement, permanent disability, and loss of life enjoyment.