Victims of car accidents have the right to seek fair compensation for any losses they have suffered from the at-fault party. While that is your right, you also have the responsibility of proving what your losses are and demonstrating with evidence what you are owed.
If you are hurt in an accident, it is critical to have a good understanding of the details of your case. For that, hire a Newnan car accident lawyer. Here is what you need to know about your rights when you are involved in a car accident and you are not at fault.
Your Right to Fair Compensation
You may hear a lot about fair compensation in a car accident. The law aims to help victims become “whole again” after an accident causes them losses. There is no real way to make physical injuries, emotional trauma, and ongoing pain fully better. However, it may be possible to obtain compensation that will help you manage those challenges. Fair compensation typically falls into two forms: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
You have the right to economic damages, which reimburse you for medical expenses and other documented financial losses you have incurred. These damages tend to be very clear and easy to value because you have a receipt or a simple calculation to determine those losses. Some examples of economic damages in a car accident include:
- Medical expenses from the accident
- Ongoing and future medical costs related to your injuries
- In-home modifications and support to meet your needs due to the accident’s limitations
- Property damage to your vehicle
- Lost wages from missed hours at work, including benefits and bonuses you would have received
- Loss of earning capacity if you will have long-term impairment to your ability to earn as you did before the accident
Economic damages are only a portion of the losses you have. However, knowing what all of these losses are is not always simple.
Non-economic Damages
Non-economic damages are more complex to calculate. This type of compensation aims to help you recover from the intangible and more subjective losses you have. These are very real losses, but valuing them can be more challenging. Examples of non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional trauma
- Chronic pain development
- Disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
- Damage to your quality of life
These losses are very severe and can impact your future. Your attorney will work to value these based on the severity of your injuries and the complexity of the car accident.
Filing a Claim Against the At-Fault Driver
You have the right to file a claim for your losses against the at-fault party’s liability insurance. Under Georgia’s liability insurance requirements, all drivers must carry at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per incident in bodily injury liability coverage. In addition, drivers must maintain $25,000 per incident in property damage liability coverage. Most people have more than the minimum amount of insurance coverage. The insurance company must pay your valid, evidence-based claim up to these limits.
Seek the Guidance of a Car Accident Lawyer to Maximize Your Claim
If you are hurt in an accident you did not cause, seek the guidance of legal representation right away. Your Newnan injury lawyer will help you protect your rights after a car accident.