The purpose of damages is to restore an individual to their position before an incident caused them harm. For instance, if your vehicle is wrecked in an accident and you are injured, you may be entitled to damages that will restore your car to its previous value and pay for medical bills from your personal injury. You may also be eligible for damages for lost earnings while you are healing from the accident. If you’re a North Carolina resident, here are some things you should know about filing for damages in a lawsuit.
Damages in personal injury cases
Some types of damages are designed to compensate victims who have sustained personal injury due to someone else’s negligence. Personal injury lawsuits are considered civil cases brought to court by one person against another individual or company.
These damages can include medical bills, costs for future medical care, loss of current and future earnings, and compensation for household expenses that the injured party cannot take care of while recovering. Other personal injury damages can be more difficult to calculate, such as pain and suffering, humiliation or PTSD that the victim suffered as a result of the accident.
Wrongful death lawsuit damages
Wrongful death lawsuits are brought by a relative of someone who has passed away due to someone else’s negligent or reckless behavior. Damages in a wrongful death personal injury lawsuit can include medical bills and funeral expenses, compensation for the wages that the decedent would have earned had the accident not occurred, and compensation for the pain and suffering that the surviving relatives are experiencing due to the victim’s death. Wrongful death lawsuits can also include punitive damages to discourage the defendant from engaging in irresponsible behavior again.
Damages awarded in a lawsuit cannot replace a loved one or undo a serious injury. However, compensation can make it easier to recover and avoid financial hardship after an accident.