Types of Recoverable Car Accident Damages

Car accidents can lead to a wide range of losses, both physical and financial. Understanding the types of recoverable damages can help you pursue fair compensation and rebuild your life after an accident. Let our Albuquerque accident attorney guide your path to recovery.

Medical Expenses

After a car crash, the most immediate and often substantial costs are related to medical treatment. These include emergency room visits, surgeries, hospital stays, and any other initial treatment required to address injuries sustained in the accident.

Ongoing Medical Treatment

Many injuries require ongoing care, such as physical therapy, follow-up doctor visits, and specialized treatments. You can seek compensation for these future medical expenses as well.

Medication and Medical Devices

The cost of prescription medications and necessary medical devices, such as crutches, wheelchairs, or prosthetics, can also be recovered.

Lost Wages

If the accident causes you to miss work, you can claim compensation for lost wages. This includes any immediate loss of income due to time spent recovering from the injury.

Future Income Loss

In cases of severe injury, you may be unable to return to work for an extended period or might have to take a lower-paying job. Damages can be recovered to pay for future lost income and diminished earning capacity.

Property Damage

The cost of repairing or replacing the damaged vehicle is a significant part of a car accident claim. Not only the repairs themselves but also any associated expenses, such as towing and rental car fees can be included

Personal Property

Any personal property damaged in the accident, such as electronics, clothing, or other items inside the vehicle, can also be recovered in your claim.

Pain and Suffering

Compensation for physical pain and suffering addresses the immediate and long-term physical discomfort resulting from injuries. This can be more challenging to quantify but is an essential part of the claim.

Emotional Distress

Car accidents can lead to significant emotional and psychological trauma, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Compensation for emotional distress aims to address these non-physical damages.

Loss of Enjoyment of Life

Injuries that affect your ability to enjoy life’s activities, such as hobbies, exercise, and social interactions, can lead to compensation for loss of enjoyment of life.

Loss of Consortium

Severe injuries can affect your relationships with your spouse and family. Loss of consortium damages compensate for the loss of companionship, affection, and sexual relations due to the accident.

Punitive Damages

In cases where the at-fault party’s behavior was particularly reckless or malicious, the court might award punitive damages. These are intended to punish the offender and deter similar conduct in the future.

Legal and Miscellaneous Expenses

Many Albuquerque injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront fees, and they are only paid for their services with a percentage of the settlement. These legal fees can be included in the claim.

Other Costs

Other recoverable expenses might include travel costs for medical treatment, home modifications needed due to disability, and any other costs directly related to the accident and your resulting injuries.