If you’ve ever seen a legal thriller, you probably think that people get millions of dollars whenever they file suit. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The point of filing a lawsuit isn’t to get rich. It’s to be compensated for losses you’ve already suffered.
Personal injury lawyers in Atlanta, Georgia understand this. They fight hard to get their clients the money they deserve. However, they also understand that you need to suffer an actual injury in order to recover.
It’s not enough that you’ve been in an accident. You have to get hurt in order to file suit. That’s why it’s called a personal “injury” lawsuit. If you are injured, your injury attorney in Atlanta is going to fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
There are four (4) main types of damages in a personal injury suit:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Future lost earnings or permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
The first three types of damages are called economic damages. They’re rather easy to calculate. For pain and suffering, however, it’s a bit different. It’s a non-economic type of damage and it can be very difficult to calculate.
How are Different Types of Damages Calculated?
Since the most important question most plaintiffs have is, “How much will I get in my lawsuit?”, we should take a look at how damages are calculated.
For economic damages, it’s not difficult to calculate damages if you have the right information. Your Atlanta personal injury lawyer will be careful to craft a legal demand that includes all types of damages. You’re better off asking for more upfront and settle for less later.
Medical Bills: If you suffer a personal injury, you probably have medical bills to pay. You’re entitled to reimbursement for both current and future medical bills. Your doctor may say you need additional treatment. This could be for a few years or the rest of your life.
Lost Wages: If you miss time from work, you have a right to be compensated. If you miss more than a week or so, you can put in a claim for damages. You should be compensated for any wages you lost due to your injuries.
Lost Future Earnings: If the accident prevents you from returning to work, or you can’t do the same kind of work, your personal injury lawyer in Atlanta will demand compensation. Let’s say you can no longer work as a mechanic because of your injuries. You have to work retail instead. Whatever the difference in future earnings may be, your lawyer will demand you be compensated.
The other kind of damages is pain and suffering. These damages are non-economic and cannot be calculated easily. Your Georgia personal injury lawyer will fight to get you as much as possible.
What are Pain and Suffering?
Pain and suffering are designed to compensate you for mental and physical anguish caused by the accident. This is hard to measure. There are no receipts for this kind of thing. Instead, your attorney will have to prove these damages using other sorts of evidence.
Some of the factors that go into determining pain and suffering include:
- Does the person act like a person in pain would act?
- Did the victim have any pre-existing injuries or conditions?
- Can the victim do normal, everyday activities?
- What did the person do for a living?
- What did the individual earn prior to the accident?
- How old is the victim? How many more years would they work?
- Does the claimant have a family and children?
A lot of this will be proven using your testimony and the testimony of family and friends. Your Atlanta injury lawyer will also rely on experts to prove your pain and suffering.
The exact amount you receive is different in each case. There’s no way to know upfront how much you’ll receive in pain and suffering. If your case goes to trial, it will depend on the jury. But, since most cases settle long before they go to court, your attorney will have to negotiate pain and suffering damages with the other attorney.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Atlanta Today
If you suffer a personal injury in Atlanta, you need to contact a personal injury lawyer right away. An experienced personal injury attorney in Atlanta will be able to help prove your damages. They can also negotiate with the defendant’s lawyer to get you as much as possible.
Call today and schedule your initial consultation. The consultation is free and you pay nothing until you settle your case.
