Rhode Island car accident victims have the right to file a lawsuit against at-fault drivers to recover the costs of their injuries. However, it is important to understand the different kinds of payments available in order to get full compensation for the crash.
Types of Damages Awarded in a Rhode Island Crash Case
Once all of your injuries have healed—or a doctor has determined the likely outcome of your injuries—you can begin to accurately calculate the amount of your damages. Some damages such as lost income and medical costs will be easier to calculate than others.
Your attorney should carefully determine how much you are owed for your:
Medical costs.
You should add up all medical expenses incurred after the accident from the emergency room to continued follow-up care. Your attorney should also consider the potential costs of future medical care, including any surgeries, procedures, physical rehabilitation, psychiatric care, and other treatment.
Loss of income.
Your income losses should include any wages you have lost as a result of the injury (including the time you spent in the ER and lost opportunities such as overtime and bonuses), as well as the future income you will lose due to a partial or total disability that will affect your ability to work.
Property damage.
If your vehicle needed to be repaired or replaced as a result of the crash, your compensation should include the cost to replace the vehicle and any other property that was damaged in the accident.
Out-of-pocket costs.
Many victims will suffer unforeseen expenses due to the result of an accident. These can include modifying their home to accommodate a disability, visiting nursing care, hiring help with lawn care or snow removal, and holistic treatments not covered by insurance.
Death benefits.
If someone was killed as a result of a car accident, family members have the right to file a lawsuit to recover damages in a wrongful death case.
Pain and suffering.
Pain and suffering is an amount awarded to compensate the victim for intangible losses such as trauma, depression, mental anguish, and coping with the daily physical limitations caused by the crash.
Have You Been Injured In A Car Accident?
If you've been hurt in a car accident you need to speak to an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Warwick office directly at 401.946.3200 to schedule your free consultation. We help accident victims in Providence, Warwick and all areas of Rhode Island.
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