What Kind Of Damages Can I Recover In A Car Accident Claim?

Posted in Car accidents on March 16, 2020

Car accidents can be an incredibly scary and confusing experience. In the aftermath of a crash that causes you or a loved one harm, it is important to understand what kind of compensation you may be able to recover. Whether you are expecting a settlement through the insurance carrier or from a personal injury lawsuit, there are various types of damages you may be entitled to. If you or a loved one were in a car crash in Tennessee, contact a Nashville, TN car accident lawyer for a free consultation.

Car accidents can lead to tremendous expenses

Data from the latest reporting year from the Tennessee Department of Safety shows us that there were more than 200,000 total car accidents across the state. Out of these incidents, there were over 48,000 injury-causing crashes and 1,064 fatal crashes. It is vital that victims of these incidents be able to recover the following types of compensation for their losses.

Medical expenses

Medical expenses in the aftermath of a car accident can be tremendous. Even minor injuries can lead to unaffordable medical bills. For severe injuries, it is not uncommon to see medical expenses rising into the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. After a car accident occurs, victims often experience emergency medical bills, expenses for follow up doctor visits, physical therapy expenses, and more. Often, a victim will require prescription medications and medical devices to aid in their recovery.

Lost wages

Many car accident victims are unable to work while they recover from their injuries. Victims should be able to recover compensation for any lost wages they incur. In some cases, a car accident victim is disabled, and their ability to perform their job is diminished. Any car accident settlement should take into account a loss of future income the victim experiences due to their injury.

Pain and suffering

Car accident victims often suffer from non-economic pain and suffering damages that are harder to quantify than other expenses. Pain and suffering can be defined in various ways, including:

  • emotional distress
  • long-term physical pain
  • loss of enjoyment of life
  • loss of consortium for a spouse
  • post-traumatic stress disorder

Determining the total amount of a person’s pain and suffering can be complicated. Typically, the more severe a person’s injuries are, the more likely they are to experience tremendous pain and suffering.

Property damage

Compensation for property damage in the aftermath of a car accident is important. We depend on our vehicles to get us from place to place. The amount of money a person is able to recover for their property damage will revolve around how much damage the vehicle incurred as well as the total value of the vehicle itself.

How much will you recover for your claim?

The total amount of money a person receives for a car accident settlement will vary depending on the factors of their particular case. The factors that go into a settlement include the severity of the injuries, whether there was any shared liability for the incident, insurance policy limits, and more. It is vital that a car accident victim speaks to a qualified attorney about their case in order to secure maximum compensation for their claim.

Are there caps on car accident damages in Tennessee?

In Tennessee, there are no limits on the amount of money a person can recover for economic damages such as medical bills and lost income. However, state law does place a cap on the amount of money a person can recover for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. In general, a person will only be able to receive $750,000 for pain and suffering damages. The law allows for a higher cap of $1 million for injuries that involve:

  • severe burns
  • amputations
  • paralysis
  • wrongful death of the parent of a minor child

A skilled Nashville injury attorney will understand these caps and work to secure the most compensation possible for a car accident claim.