Damages Recoverable in Indiana Personal Injury Claims
After a serious collision, the unanticipated costs of treating your injuries can add up quickly. In addition to ambulance fees and hospital bills, accident victims often have to worry about the financial impact of missing work for an extended period of time.
According to the National Safety Council, the average cost of sustaining a disabling injury in 2015 was $90,000. This figure includes medical expenses, lost wages, administrative fees, and property damage.
Fortunately, car crash victims may be able to recover compensation for both the economic and non-economic damages that they incur by filing a personal injury claim against the liable party. If you were hurt in an auto wreck that was not your fault, turn to Marshall P. Whalley & Associates, PC.
Our clients appreciate the knowledge and commitment we bring to their cases, as well as our willingness to work closely with them, keeping them fully informed every step of the way. Call 219-769-2900 to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury attorney in Gary.
Read on to learn about the kinds of damages you may be able to recover in a personal injury claim:
- Medical Expenses
If you sustain catastrophic injuries, the subsequent medical expenses can easily amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. When calculating the total costs associated with your care following the collision, you can include:
- Ambulance fees;
- Hospital bills;
- Physical therapy expenses;
- Prescription drug costs; and
- Home care expenses.
- Lost Income
Lost income includes all of the paychecks you will miss while recovering, as well as the sick time you must use after returning to work to attend doctor’s appointments. If your injuries are so severe that they prevent you from resuming your old position, you may also be eligible for compensation to cover loss of earning capacity and vocational training.
- Pain and Suffering
Non-economic damages like pain and suffering aim to compensate victims for the emotional distress that the incident caused. It can be challenging to quantify such damages, but when negotiating for a fair settlement, a seasoned attorney will typically account for factors like:
- Scarring or permanent disfigurement;
- Trauma;
- Loss of enjoyment of life;
- Loss of consortium; and
- Long-term or permanent disabilities.
Some states cap the amount of non-economic damages that a claimant can recover, but Indiana is not one of them. The only damage caps that Indiana has established apply to cases involving medical malpractice and claims against the government.
In 2017, the malpractice damage cap rose to $1.65 million, and it will increase again in 2019 to $1.8 million. The damage cap for claims against a government entity, on the other hand, is $700,000.
If you were hurt in a preventable accident that was not your fault, a compassionate attorney from Marshall P. Whalley & Associates, PC can help you calculate all of the above damages. We have won several multi-million dollar cases for our clients.
Contact us online or call 219-769-2900 to schedule a free case evaluation with a personal injury lawyer in Gary. You can learn more about car accident claims in Indiana by visiting the USAttorneys website.
