What Type of Damages Can You Recover in Car Accident Lawsuits?

Car accidents can turn your life upside down in an instant. Beyond the physical injuries and emotional toll, there are often significant financial burdens to address. If you’ve been injured in a car crash, it’s essential to understand what damages victims can recover in car accident lawsuits.

A Georgia car accident lawyer can help accident victims seek compensation for economic losses like medical bills and non-economic damages for pain and suffering. If the other driver was especially reckless, courts may award punitive damages.

Our car accident attorneys in Albany, Georgia fight to win maximum compensation for clients. Contact Joe Durham Jr., P.C. today for a free case review.

Economic Damages: Recovering Financial Losses

Economic damages are straightforward—they’re designed to compensate you for the actual, tangible financial losses from the accident. Their value can be calculated with stubs, medical bills, and other records.

To support your claim, keep thorough records, including receipts, invoices, pay stubs, and correspondence with medical providers. If your injuries impact your ability to work, ask your employer to provide written documentation detailing missed work and lost income.

Medical Expenses

This includes all medical bills related to your accident, such as hospital stays, emergency room visits, surgeries, physical therapy, medication, and any ongoing or future medical care you may require.

Even minor injuries can lead to significant medical costs, so keeping detailed records of every expense is crucial. Your Georgia car accident lawyer will carefully document your claim for all medical costs.

Property Damage

In a car accident case, you can recover money for car repair costs or the vehicle’s fair market value if it was totaled. The insurance company will try to pay as little as possible, so having clear documentation—like repair invoices, photos of the damage, and any relevant receipts—can strengthen your case.

Lost Wages and Lost of Future Income

If your injuries force you to miss work, you can claim compensation for lost income. This includes wages, bonuses, or even freelance or gig work that couldn’t be done during your recovery. If you can’t return to the same job or work fewer hours due to a disability, you can seek damages for the future income you would have earned.

Home Renovations for a Disability and Assistance With Daily Tasks

If a car crash leaves you with a disability, you may need to make changes to your home. These modifications can include installing wheelchair ramps, widening doorways, adding handrails in bathrooms, or even making more significant changes like relocating your bedroom to the first floor.

You may also need to hire professionals to help with daily living tasks such as personal care, cleaning, cooking, or other household chores. You can seek compensation for modifying your home and home care expenses as part of your personal injury claim.

Damages in Georgia car accident lawsuits, crashed toy cars with money

Non-Economic Damages: Addressing the Impact on Your Life

Non-economic damages address the emotional, physical, and psychological toll the accident has taken on your life. Although they can be harder to calculate, they play a crucial role in car accident lawsuits.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering compensation addresses the physical pain and emotional distress caused by your injuries. For example, you might be dealing with chronic pain from a severe injury, sleepless nights from anxiety, or a disabling spinal cord injury.

When determining pain and suffering damages, insurance companies and courts typically consider factors like the severity of your injuries, the length of your recovery, and how your life has been affected.

Because pain and suffering don’t come with receipts or bills, insurance companies might try to downplay or deny this part of your claim. An experienced attorney can help build a strong case by gathering medical records, expert testimony, and evidence of how your life has changed.

Emotional Distress

Serious accidents can lead to anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If the crash has impacted your mental health, you can seek compensation for the emotional impact.

Loss of Consortium

When injuries harm your relationship with your spouse or family, this is known as loss of consortium. For example, if cannot provide the same companionship, care, or intimacy as before, your family may also suffer. You can seek financial for the accident’s impact on your marriage and family relationships.

Loss of Enjoyment of Life

If your injuries prevent you from participating in activities or hobbies you once loved—whether it’s playing sports, hiking, or spending time with loved ones—you can seek compensation for this loss.

Punitive Damages in Car Accident Lawsuits

Punitive damages are different from economic and non-economic damages. They’re not meant to compensate you for your losses but to punish the at-fault driver for particularly negligent behavior.

In Georgia, punitive damages are only awarded in cases where the at-fault driver’s actions were willful, malicious, or demonstrated extreme recklessness, such as driving under the influence.

While punitive damages aren’t common in car accident lawsuits, they can be significant when awarded. Georgia law usually limits punitive damages to $250,000. However, there are some important exceptions. Courts can award more than $250,000 in punitive damages for drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs.

Georgia car accident lawyer filing personal injury lawsuit

Why You Should Hire a Georgia Car Accident Lawyer

Recovering damages after a car accident in Georgia isn’t always straightforward. Insurance companies are often quick to offer settlements that seem appealing but fall short of covering your full losses. Accepting an early offer without consulting a lawyer can leave you with unpaid bills or insufficient funds to cover future expenses.

A car accident attorney can help you seek the maximum compensation by:

  • Gathering evidence like medical records, police reports, and witness statements.
  • Calculating the full scope of your damages, including non-economic losses that are harder to quantify.
  • Representing you in negotiations with insurance adjusters
  • Taking your case to court if necessary.

How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Georgia?

A law called the statute of limitations sets a deadline for filing a lawsuit after a car accident. In Georgia, you generally have two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline usually means losing your right to pursue compensation in court, no matter how strong your case might have been.

There are some exceptions to the statute of limitations, but they’re limited and depend on the specifics of your case. For instance, if the injured party is a minor, the two-year clock may be paused until they turn 18. On the other hand, if the at-fault party is a government entity, the deadline for filing a claim can be much shorter—sometimes as little as six months.

It’s crucial to contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible. Two years might sound like plenty of time, but it can pass quickly, especially if you’re dealing with medical treatments, insurance claims, and the emotional toll of the accident. Evidence like medical records, police reports, and witness statements is easier to gather soon after the accident while everything is still fresh.

Contact Joe Durham Law Firm for a Free Case Review

Every car accident case is unique, and the compensation you can recover depends on the specific details of your situation. By understanding the type of damages available and working with an experienced Georgia car accident lawyer, you can take the steps needed to protect your rights and secure the financial support you need to rebuild your life.

If you’ve been injured in an accident, Joe Durham Jr., P.C. is here to help you. Don’t wait—call 229-210-6226 or contact us online today for a free case review.

In an Accident?

Don't Hesitate, Contact Us Today!

Joe Durham Jr., P.C. is a highly experienced personal injury attorney, dedicated to ensuring his clients get the compensation they deserve. When you need help, he's got your back!