The amount of money that you might recover as a passenger in a car accident will depend on several factors. The severity and type of your injuries, the medical treatment you needed for your wounds, and the unpaid time you missed from work are a few of the variables that will impact the amount of money damages you could seek from the party whose carelessness caused the collision that injured you.
You will want to talk with a Chicago personal injury attorney right away if you have been hurt in a crash because there is a deadline for taking legal action. Let’s explore the question “How much money can a passenger in a car accident get?”
First, We Have to Establish Liability
Before you can get compensation from a party, you have to prove that they made a mistake that caused or contributed to the car accident. Sometimes, more than one person or company bears responsibility for the crash. For example, one driver might have run a red light, and another driver might have been unable to take evasive action to avoid the collision because they were texting instead of paying attention.
There might be liable parties who were not even present at the scene of the accident. If faulty brakes caused a crash, the brake manufacturer or installer could be liable to the people who got injured as a result.
Second, We Need to Add Up Your Economic Losses from the Collision
Two of the most common categories of economic damages from car accidents are medical expenses and lost wages. Usually, the reasonable cost of the medical treatment of a person’s wounds is recoverable. These bills can include the ambulance, emergency room, doctors, hospital, surgery, prescription drugs, physical therapy, and other necessary healthcare services and goods.
Lost wages can include missed paychecks in the form of wages, salary, self-employment, and other forms of income that a person did not earn because of the accident. If a person experiences long-term impairment that makes them unable to make as much money as before the crash, they could have a claim for lost future wages.
Then, We Look at the Intangible Damages Like Pain and Suffering
While it is a good thing to get your medical bills and lost income damages paid, anyone who has gotten hurt in a car crash knows that there are additional unpleasant consequences that the injured person experiences. The purpose of “pain and suffering” compensation is to address the physical discomfort, emotional distress, and inconvenience the individual endured.
Other forms of intangible money damages can include:
- Disfigurement for large scars
- Disability for being no longer able to support oneself through gainful employment
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that can develop after a horrific crash
- Loss of the enjoyment of life if the injuries take away a person’s ability to perform certain functions they used to enjoy, like picking up one’s child or going for a hike.
Contact Our Car Accident Attorneys in Chicago
You might have these or other losses if you got injured as a passenger in a car accident. A Chicago personal injury attorney at Hale & Monico could handle your personal injury claim or lawsuit so that you can focus on getting better. Contact our office today for help, we offer a free consultation.