Main Page About Us Attorney Profiles Lawrence is Rear-Ended Injured – Read This Client’s Special Needs Accident Report Code Injury Videos Articles Se Habla Español Contact Us

Auto Accidents Boating Accidents Construction Accidents Insurance Bad Faith Medical Malpractice Nursing Home Abuse Personal Injury Law Premises Liability Slip & Fall Accidents Social Security Law Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Workers Compensation Wrongful Death


AAJ's Legal & Consumer News News You Can UseLegal Dictionary Instructions For Injury Clients Home Safety Tips

Medical Malpractice Damages

There are two types of damages available in medical malpractice cases, compensatory damages and punitive damages.

Compensatory Damages

Compensatory damages are designed to, in a word, compensate. To the extent possible, these types of damages are meant to make the person as "whole" as possible. Generally, these damages can be broken up into two sub-categories, actual damages and general damages. Actual damages seek to reimburse a plaintiff for financial losses sustained. Actual damages typically include:

  1. Medical and hospitalization bills incurred to treat your injuries
  2. Wages lost due to work missed while you recuperate
  3. Costs of household or nursing help during recovery, including costs of wheelchair or crutches required
Malpractice victims can also sue for general damages in addition to actual damages. General damages include the things that can't be precisely documented in dollars spent, including
  1. Pain and suffering endured due to injuries and any subsequent mental anguish
  2. Disfigurement
  3. Value of medical expenses you are likely to incur in the future
  4. Value of wages you are likely to lose in the future
  5. Loss of consortium (benefits of a relationship)
  6. Loss of normal life

Damages are also available in cases where the plaintiff is able to prove that he or she was not provided with proper informed consent.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages may be awarded in certain cases. Punitive damages are not based on actual injuries sustained. Rather, they are a way to punish the defendant for intentional or grossly negligent conduct. It is fairly uncommon to see punitive damages in a medical malpractice case. However, it is not unprecedented.

If you or a loved one is in need of legal assistance, call Egerton & Associates at (336) 273-0508 or toll free (800) 800-4LAW (4529). or submit an online questionnaire. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases, a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. Please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.


More Information

Amount of Damages Factors Affecting Amount of Damages Awarded Types of Compensatory Damages Types of Damages
Free Case Review

DISCLAIMER: This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Persons accessing this site are encouraged to seek counsel for advice regarding their individual legal issues.

© Copyright 2006 - Egerton & Associates & MegaHunter Inc. & AttorneyHunter, an Attorney Directory-Lawyers, Law Firms, Attorneys. Lawyer Websites – Attorney Websites – Law Firm Websites – Legal Websites designed by MegaHunter, Inc. All Rights Reserved.