InformationSuffering injuries in an accident is always an emotional and stressful experience.
It’s important to know that when your injuries result from someone else’s negligence, you are entitled to compensation.
Depending on your case, you may recover different types of damages. You may be wondering, What are Special Damages?
Contact with an experienced personal injury attorney to learn more about the types of recoverable damages in a personal injury case.
Are There Different Types of Damages?
Texas law permits the recovery of two types of personal injury damages: compensatory or exemplary damages.
Compensatory damages seek to make a victim whole after an accident, and they cover medical bills, lost wages, emotional distress, and pain and suffering.
In contrast, exemplary damages—also referred to as punitive damages—seek to punish the wrongdoer.
Instead of a goal to make the injured victim whole, exemplary damages attempt to deter future similar behavior through punishment.
What Are Special Damages in a Lawsuit?
Compensatory damages are further divided into two categories identified as special damages and general damages.
Special damages in a personal injury lawsuit refer to the easily calculable losses related to your accident and injuries.
Speak with an attorney to determine what special damages you may be entitled to recover.
Common special damages claims in personal injury lawsuits include the following:
- Past and future medical expenses,
- Property damage,
- Lost wages, and
- Loss of future earning capacity.
These damages are easy to calculate because they come with documentation and specific dollar figures.
Provide copies of all relevant receipts, invoices, bills, and pay stubs to your attorney. This tangible evidence supports your claim for recovery of these damages.
General damages refer to intangible losses related to your injury.
General damages are more challenging to prove because there may be limited evidence to determine the valuation of these types of losses.
Common examples of general damages include the following:
- Pain and suffering,
- Loss of enjoyment of life,
- Emotional distress,
- Loss of consortium, and
- Permanent disfigurement or disability.
Without the assistance of an attorney, calculating and recovering general damages becomes substantially more difficult.
What Factors Affect the Value of My Case?
Many injured victims ask about the average value for personal injury lawsuits.
However, an average value for all personal injury lawsuits does not exist. Each case presents its unique set of facts and circumstances, which affect the potential value of each case.
Common factors affecting the value of your claim include the following:
- Severity and type of injury,
- Medical expenses,
- Loss of current wages and future earnings,
- Permanent disability,
- Property damage,
- Liability, and
- The strength of the case.
Determining how these factors may affect the value of your case requires a qualified personal injury attorney.
Understanding the value of your case helps manage expectations in settlement discussions and any potential trial.
Contact an Experienced Texas Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If you sustained injuries in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you might have questions about what to do next.
You need a compassionate advocate on your side to obtain the compensation you deserve.
The experienced personal injury attorneys at Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C. fight for injured victims like you. We work tirelessly to recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses.
Contact our office today to schedule your free consultation and learn more about how we can help you on the road to recovery.
Michael Zimmerman
Michael was born in Houston, Texas. His education at Baylor and Texas State Universities earned him a Bachelor of Science degree in 1987. His major was in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry. He finished his legal education at Texas Southern University in 1990, earning a Juris Doctorate from Thurgood Marshall School of Law. He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1990.
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