Damages in Motor Vehicle Accident Cases

Skilled Savannah Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers Connecting Clients with Meaningful Compensation 

If you’ve been involved in a car, truck or motorcycle accident, the aftermath can leave you with more than just physical injuries. You may face mounting medical bills, lost wages, and emotional trauma—all of which can affect your daily life. At Suthers & Harper, our Savannah motor vehicle accident attorneys understand how challenging this time can be, and our goal is to help you recover—physically, emotionally, and financially. By filing a personal injury claim, you can seek damages for the losses you’ve suffered due to the accident. But what exactly do personal injury damages cover? Below, we’ll explore the different types of damages in motor vehicle accident cases.

Medical Expenses

Medical expenses are one of the most significant and immediate concerns after a motor vehicle accident. Even a relatively minor accident can result in substantial medical costs, from initial emergency treatment to ongoing care. Medical expenses that you can recover in a personal injury claim include:

Emergency room visits: After an accident, you may need immediate medical attention, which could include ambulance services, emergency room care, and diagnostic tests like X-rays or MRIs.

Surgical procedures: Some injuries may require surgery, which can be costly and require additional recovery time.

Rehabilitation and physical therapy: Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may need rehabilitation services or physical therapy to regain strength and mobility.

Ongoing medical care: For more severe injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord damage, you may require ongoing care, including specialized medical equipment, medications, and future surgeries.

While health insurance can cover some of your medical expenses, it is often not enough to fully address the financial and emotional toll that an accident can have on your life. For example, health insurance typically covers medical treatments, but it won’t compensate you for lost wages, pain and suffering, or long-term care needs. Additionally, you may still be responsible for out-of-pocket expenses like copays, deductibles, and treatments that your health insurance doesn’t cover. A Savannah motor vehicle accident attorney at Suthers & Harper can help ensure you include all of your medical costs, both current and future when calculating your claim.

Lost Wages and Loss of Earning Capacity

In addition to medical bills, many accident victims find themselves unable to return to work due to their injuries. Whether you’ve missed a few days or several months of work, you may be entitled to recover compensation for lost wages. This includes the income you would have earned during the time you were unable to work due to your accident-related injuries.

For those who have sustained severe injuries, there may be long-term or permanent effects on their ability to work. In these cases, you can seek compensation for loss of earning capacity. This refers to the diminished ability to earn income in the future due to your injuries. For example, if you worked in a physically demanding job and now have permanent mobility issues, your earning capacity may be significantly reduced. Your attorney can work with vocational experts to calculate the potential long-term impact of your injuries on your ability to earn a living.

Pain and Suffering

Not all damages in a motor vehicle accident case are tied to financial losses. Pain and suffering, a form of non-economic damages, can be a significant component of your personal injury claim. These damages are meant to compensate you for the physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life that you’ve experienced as a result of the accident.

Physical pain: Injuries from motor vehicle accidents can cause ongoing pain and discomfort, limiting your ability to enjoy everyday activities and significantly impacting your quality of life.

Emotional suffering: Accidents can also lead to emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These conditions can make it difficult to return to normal life after an accident and may require therapy or counseling.

Loss of enjoyment of life: In some cases, victims may no longer be able to participate in activities they once enjoyed, such as hobbies, sports, or spending time with family. This loss of enjoyment can be factored into your claim for pain and suffering.

The amount of compensation you can recover for pain and suffering depends on the severity of your injuries, the impact on your daily life, and other factors. An experienced Savannah motor vehicle accident attorney can work with medical experts, therapists, and other professionals to maximize the damages you recover, ensuring you are fully compensated for everything you’ve been put through. 

Speak with a Savannah Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyer at Suthers & Harper Today

If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident, you deserve to be compensated for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and suffering. At Suthers & Harper, our team of skilled attorneys is here to help you deal with the challenges of bringing a lawsuit. We’ve helped countless clients rebuild their lives in the wake of a serious accident and look forward to learning more about how we can help you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Savannah motor vehicle accident lawyer. You can reach us by calling 800-320-2384 or by filling out our secure online contact form. Calling is free, and we will not bill you for our services unless we can recover compensation on your behalf.