Car accidents are one of the leading causes of personal injuries in the United States. People who suffer injuries and losses after a car accident can experience medical debt, job loss, vehicle damage and other types of financial strain. Many auto accident victims want to know whether they can seek compensation for their financial losses.
With a successful auto accident claim, victims can sue negligent parties for damages. It is important that victims understand what forms of damages can be recovered with a successful claim. Here is what you should know:
Economic and non-economic damages
There are two types of damages available for people who have experienced injuries and losses after a negligent driver caused an accident. These two types of compensation include economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include actual financial losses. Some common types of economic damages include medical bills, future medical care, lost wages, vehicle repair or replacement costs and funeral bills.
Non-economic damages include non-tangible losses, which are much harder to identify. Some common types of non-economic damages include emotional distress, anxiety, disfigurement and pain. This type of compensation is meant to help people who have losses that cannot easily be compensated with money.
Comparative negligence
How much a person can recover from an auto accident depends on a few factors. One factor includes the amount of fault of both parties. Florida is a modified comparative negligence state, which means the victim’s percentage of fault can reduce their compensation amount up to 50% of damages. In other words, if a victim is 10% at fault for an accident, then they can only recover 90% of any damages awarded to them.
Recovering maximum compensation is essential to an individual’s recovery after an auto accident. Professional legal guidance can help build a case against negligent drivers.