Every year, thousands of people from all walks of life are injured in accidents caused by the negligence of some other party across Canada. In many instances, some of these individuals sustain serious, life-altering injuries.
In the aftermath of an accident arising from the negligence of someone else, a major concern on the part of an injured individual is obtaining appropriate compensation for losses. A person needs to understand the mechanics of compensation following an accident causing personal injury.
Types of Compensable Losses in a Personal Injury Case
The facts and circumstances of an accident, together with the injuries sustained by the victim of negligence, dictate the nature and extent of compensation in a particular case. Compensation is determined on a case-by-case basis. With that noted, there are certain types of losses, injuries, and damages that oftentimes result in compensation in a personal in jury case. These include:
- medical bills and expenses
- pain and suffering
- mental anguish and emotional distress
- permanent injury
- permanent disfigurement
- lost income
- property loss and damage
Future Losses in a Personal Injury Case
In many personal injury cases, a victim of an accident must seek compensation for losses that reasonably can be expected to continue into the future. For example, an injured person may require medical care and treatment into the future. An injured person may endure chronic pain for an indefinite period of time. He or she may not be able to return to work any time soon. These all represent types of losses for which a person may be entitled to compensation.
Understanding Punitive or Exemplary Damages
Depending on the underlying facts of a case, what are known as punitive or compensatory damages may be available in a personal injury case. Punitive or compensatory damages represent additional compensation in a case in which the conduct of the party causing the accident is deemed particularly reckless or egregious. These types are damages are awarded only in what are considered exceptional circumstances.
Punitive damages are designed to do more than provide an injured party additional compensation. Punitive damages also serve to punish the party that caused an accident for particularly reckless or egregious conduct.
Legal Representation and Compensation Following an Accident
The first step in retaining legal representation in a personal injury case is scheduling what is known as an initial consultation with legal counsel. During an initial consultation, a personal injury lawyer provides an evaluation of a case. Legal counsel also provides answers to an injured person’s questions.
As a general rule, a personal injury attorney does not charge a fee for an initial consultation. Indeed, a personal injury lawyer usually utilizes a contingency fee agreement. Through this type of agreement, an injured person pays no fee in a case unless legal counsel obtains a favorable settlement or judgment for a client. The legal team at MG Law, online at http://mginjurylawyers.com/, has the experience necessary to assist a person injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence.