Suppose you suffered injuries or other losses due to an accident that was no fault of your own. In that case, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim to recover damages, otherwise referred to as financial awards. Such compensation is usually a combination of both economic and non-economic damages. Continue reading to learn the differences between the two types of damages and how an experienced Ontario personal injury lawyer at Merricks Law Group can assist you through the process of claiming them.
What are economic damages in a personal injury claim?
Economic damages refer to the tangible losses that you sustained or will sustain due to your accident. Below are common examples:
- Medical expenses: these bills include the costs for your initial hospital stay and also any needed follow-up treatment for your injuries.
- Lost wages: perhaps you may be out of work for a few days or weeks due to your injuries. Or perhaps you are unable to return to your profession for several months, years, or even never again.
- Property damage: this is commonly claimed in auto accidents if your automobile was seriously damaged in the crash. If this is your case, a skilled Toronto auto accident lawyer can support you.
What are non-economic damages?
Non-economic damages refer to types of losses that do not come with tangible documentation. Common kinds of non-economic damages include pain and suffering, loss of consortium, emotional distress, and disability, among others.
The key difference between the two is that economic damages are usually to restore you to your original financial condition while non-economic damages are usually to compensate for various types of suffering related to the accident.
If you believe that you require payment after your accident, regardless of the type of damage, do not hesitate in reaching out to our firm today.
What is the process for claiming damages?
Usually, your insurance company will be quick to negotiate a settlement that is not sufficient enough to cover all of your damages. That is when your attorney will step in to conduct an independent investigation of your damages so as to negotiate a full settlement on your behalf. If this negotiation cannot be settled, that is when you will need to file a personal injury claim, where you will be required to outline the specific damages you are seeking to recover.
Collecting proof of your economic damages is relatively easy, so long as you retain the proper bills to support your claims. Proof of non-economic damages may be a bit more challenging, as they do not come with the same kind of documentation. However, what commonly gives the jury enough information to justify your claims is an explanation of the accident or the psychological after-effects from your perspective.
Contact Our Experienced Toronto Personal Injury Firm
If you have been injured in an accident due to no fault of your own, contact a Toronto Personal Injury Lawyer at Merricks Law Group today.
