Determining what reimbursement you’re entitled to receive after a car accident can be overwhelming. The good news is that you could be entitled to various reimbursements after a car accident in Georgia. What you may claim after an auto accident depends on the specific circumstances of your claim. If you have questions about pursuing a personal injury claim for injuries following a car accident, please get in touch with our lawyers at MG Law.
Read on to learn more about the general types of car accident reimbursements you might be entitled to in Georgia.
Medical Expenses
If you suffered injuries, you likely have medical bills. Medical expenses are one of car accident claims’ most common types of compensation. Reimbursement might be for doctor visits, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, and other medical expenses related to your injuries. Even if your health insurance covers some of these expenses, you can still seek compensation for the total cost of your medical care.
Lost Wages
If you cannot work due to your injuries, you can seek compensation for your loss of earnings. This reimbursement includes any income you lost due to your inability to work and any future income you may lose if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job. Damages can include compensation for sick leave or vacation time you had to use because of the accident and other lost work benefits.
Property Damage
You can seek compensation for the cost of repairs or replacement of your vehicle. Compensation can include reimbursement for other personal property damaged or destroyed in the accident. Many insurance companies include invoices for rental car costs under property damage reimbursement.
Pain and Suffering
In addition to economic damages like medical expenses and lost wages, you can seek compensation for pain and suffering. Pain and suffering refers to the physical suffering you experienced from the accident. Insurance companies often lump all non-economic damages—such as emotional distress, consortium loss, and enjoyment of life—under pain and suffering.
Emotional Distress
Emotional distress is far more common in auto accidents than many people realize. It can include anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health conditions that manifest after the collision. It’s essential to seek help for any emotional distress you experience after the accident.
Loss of Consortium
You might be entitled to compensation for loss of consortium if you are married or in a domestic partnership. Loss of consortium refers to the loss of companionship, affection, and intimacy you experience due to your injuries. In Georgia, this might be a separate claim from any other compensation you seek reimbursement for following a car accident.
Permanent Disability
Some severe injuries result in permanent disability, entitling you to additional compensation. Permanent disability can include the loss of use of a limb, paralysis, or other conditions that permanently affect your ability to work or live your life as you did before the accident. This type of compensation can help you pay for ongoing medical treatment, adaptive equipment, and other costs associated with your disability.
Disfigurement
Car accidents that result in permanent disfigurement, such as scarring or other visible marks, entitle you to additional compensation. Disfigurement can be emotionally and psychologically distressing and affect your ability to work or live as you did before the accident. Compensation for disfigurement can help you pay for cosmetic procedures or other treatments to reduce the visibility of the disfigurement.
Future Medical Expenses
Should you need future medical treatment, your attorney can ask for compensation for ongoing care or anticipated surgical procedures, lifelong rehabilitation, and more. Examples include future doctor visits, surgeries, medications, and rehabilitation. It’s essential to work with your doctor and attorney to estimate the cost of your future medical expenses and seek compensation for this as part of your claim.
In some cases, your attorney might need to hire one or more industry experts to evaluate your future expected medical costs. Hiring an expert can help maximize your potential settlement because estimating future expenses can be complicated.
Future Loss of Earning Capacity
If your injuries prevent you from returning to work or limit your ability to work in the future, you may be entitled to compensation for future loss of earning capacity. This amount will help you make up for the income you would have earned if you had not been injured. It can also include compensation for lost opportunities for career advancement.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are a possibility in certain instances. This compensation “punishes” the at-fault driver for their behavior. The courts hope that it will deter them and others from engaging in similar conduct in the future. Punitive damages may be available in cases where the driver’s conduct was particularly reckless, willful, or malicious—for example, the driver was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or was engaging in other illegal or highly reckless behavior. In these situations, the court might award you punitive damages.
To recover punitive damages, you must prove that the driver’s conduct was not just negligent but also demonstrated a conscious disregard for the safety of others. This standard can be challenging to meet, and you should know that punitive damages are rarely awarded. That’s why you want to work with an experienced attorney to build a strong case for punitive damages.
Contact MG Law Today
You can seek compensation if you or someone you love suffered harm in a car accident due to another party’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions. Pursuing compensation can be challenging. However, the lawyers at MG Law stand ready to help. We have years of experience helping clients seek reimbursements after a car accident. Our team knows what it takes to build a solid case and can help you fight for the maximum compensation. Contact our office today to learn more about how we can help.
Michael Geoffroy’s law practice focuses on auto collisions, premises liability, wrongful death, and catastrophic injury, and he stands up for the cause of justice throughout Georgia and on behalf of his clients every day. He is a leader in both the courtroom and the community, having been recognized numerous times for his involvement in each.