(864) 582-0416 If you’ve been in an auto collision, you’re likely facing serious costs due to your injuries and the accident. Your vehicle might be totaled and need to be replaced, and you might need long-term medical treatment.
These kinds of costs, coupled with the harm done, can all be recoverable damages after a Greenville car accident. During a FREE case review, a Holland & Usry attorney can provide guidance about how much your case might be worth and how to get the compensation you deserve.
Damages are the legal expression of your injuries; in other words, they are the consequences of the responsible party’s carelessness or recklessness that you can be compensated for. Depending on the effects you experience, damages can be economic, non-economic, or punitive.
Economic damages are easy to put a dollar value on. Your medical costs for immediate and future treatment, lost income if you are disabled, and the expense of replacing or repairing your car can all count as economic damages.
Non-economic damages are harder to put a dollar value on. Your pain and suffering resulting from your injuries, as well as the emotional trauma from the accident, can factor into non-economic damages. These damages allow you to recover financially for the less-obvious effects of a crash.
Finally, punitive damages might be available if the person who caused the accident engaged in especially reckless behavior. While not as common as other types of damages, you could recover punitive damages in your Greenville car crash case depending on what happened.
You know that you have damages from your injuries, but you’ll need to prove that those damages exist in the amounts you claim. Bringing together evidence and testimony about your damages is what allows you to recover compensation.
Medical records can show your injuries and their effects, including if your accident aggravated any previous conditions. Your doctor may also give an opinion on your ability to work, reinforcing your claim for lost wages. Your own testimony as to your state of mind and suffering can demonstrate your non-economic damages. Many times however, the most powerful evidence of what you went through comes from other people in your life, like family, friends, and coworkers. Finally, evidence of what the other driver did to cause the crash can contribute to a claim for punitive damages.
Fortunately, your attorney can work with you to obtain the evidence that supports your claim. Your lawyer can gather proof of recoverable damages you will need and present it to a Greenville court or insurance company so you can make your car accident claim.
The process of pursuing compensation for damages can take time, however, so you should start as soon as you can after a crash. Under South Carolina law, you might only be able to bring your claim up to two or three years after the accident. Therefore, you should consult with a lawyer soon to benefit you and your case.
You deserve to have an idea of what you should expect from a compensation claim, and your lawyer can give you that idea once they learn about your case. During a FREE case review, an attorney from our firm can evaluate your recoverable damages after a Greenville car accident and start developing your claim. Contact us today to get started.
