After being injured in an accident, you may be entitled to personal injury compensation. If you have to sue another party to receive what you are owed, you will typically get what you deserve in something called a settlement. The following are some questions you may have about this, as well as the answers to help you understand more.
What Types of Damages Can I Seek?
Your accident will be a unique situation for you. The damages you seek will be determined by the type of accident you were in and the results that came because of the accident. Some possibilities include:
- Medical Costs – This may include a trip to the hospital in an ambulance, an emergency room visit, surgery, medication, therapy, and anything else related to your medical care.
- Lost Income – In many personal injury cases, the injured party has to miss at least some work. You could get compensation to cover those costs, whether it was temporary or will be permanent.
- Pain and Suffering – This comes in many forms but may include depression, anger, frustration, embarrassment, lack of sleep, and other similar issues.
- Loss of Consortium or Companionship – Some injuries make it impossible for you to participate in a relationship the same way you did previously. Seeking loss of consortium or companionship will monetarily make up for that.
- Property Loss – You may be able to receive compensation for property loss, depending on the situation. For example, if your car was totaled in an accident that was someone else’s fault, you may be able to recover the cost of the car.
Do I Have to Use My Settlement for Medical Bills?
If you already owe medical bills to your healthcare provider, chances are he or she will have a lien on your settlement. Before you even see any of the settlement yourself, your lawyer fees will come out of it, then any liens will be satisfied. This includes any outstanding medical bills. Once those are paid and you are given what remains, you don’t necessarily have to use the funds for medical bills, though it would be wise to at least set some aside for your bills. Your lawyer can help you determine what you might need to hold onto and what you can use for other expenses.
Contacting a Lawyer
Personal injuries could come with a lot of questions. If you have been injured, contact a personal injury lawyer in Trenton, NJ, today so you can learn more about the claims process and what you need to do to get started.
Thank you to the experts at Davis & Brusca, LLC for their insight into personal injury and the law.