A personal injury claim can be made if you were injured because of another person’s negligence. This type of claim can be used if your injury was the result of a negligent incident like an auto accident or a slip and fall. If your case is successful, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries and losses.
Are you planning on filing a personal injury claim? You may want to know what types of damages typically qualify for compensation and how much compensation you may receive.
What types of damages can you recover?
There are two types of damages that can be recovered in a personal injury claim: economic and non-economic damages. Economic and non-economic damages that you can recover may depend on the type of accident and losses you have suffered.
Economic damages include tangible financial losses. There are a few types of economic damages that can be recovered with a personal injury claim, including:
- Medical expenses: Hospital bills, surgery, medication, long-term medical care, medical equipment and therapy
- Lost wages: Income lost during recovery time and future earning losses
- Property damages: Vehicle repairs, rentals and broken personal belongings
- Funeral costs: Funeral service, burial and cremation costs
Non-economic damages are intangible losses. Some common types of non-economic damages include emotional turmoil, loss of companionship and trauma. These types of losses are often much harder to calculate and may require additional evidence to help ensure compensation is recovered.
What is your case worth?
To identify the value of your case, it may be important to understand negligence laws. Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence system. This means that the amount of damages a victim can recover may be reduced by the amount of their fault. If they are more than 50% at fault for an accident, they may not be eligible for damages.
Evidence can be used in a personal injury case to show that a party was negligent and, therefore, liable for damages. For example, a property owner or business owner may be responsible for a slip-and-fall accident if it can be proven that they failed to maintain their property.
If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, legal guidance can help you explore your eligibility for a personal injury lawsuit.