Evidently Damaged: What To Know About Proving Car Accident Damages

29 September 2020

After a car accident, your injuries may be considered a form of damage. That, however, is only the most obvious damage after an accident. When the accident was the fault of the other driver, you should be paid for all the ways the accident impacts you and your life. To find out more about damages and how they affect the amount of money you get paid after an accident, read on.

What Are Damages?

Almost all accident victims can cite a long list of negative consequences from being in an accident, and it's important that they do just that. Many different types of damages can exist after an accident. While every case is unique, here are some common forms of damage many vehicle accident victims may experience:

• Physical injuries requiring medical treatment, both past and future.
• Physical damage to a vehicle.
• Loss or damage of personal possessions like a cell phone, child car seat, and other items on the victim's person or in the vehicle at the time of the accident.
• Time missed from work attending to medical or other accident-related issues.
• Pain and suffering and loss of consortium. This is the way the physical injuries have impacted a victim's family and their emotional situation.

How Compensation Is Calculated

You are entitled to be paid for every way the accident has damaged you, from medical expenses to pain and suffering. When you meet with a personal injury lawyer, you will provide them with your medical records, the accident report, a repair estimate, and any other relevant documentation. As time goes by, your lawyer may ask you to use a pain journal to note the way the accident continues to affect you. Additionally, as your injures heal, the need for future medical treatments must be determined. All of that information goes into what you and your lawyer agree to demand from the other side.

Evidence of Damages

You must also consider how to show proof of the damages. For example, you will need to provide a pay statement, bank statement, or a tax return to show how much income you usually make and how much you lost because of the accident. Medical expenses are typically proven with billing statements, but your lawyer may consult with a medical and economics expert to estimate your future needs if your injuries are ongoing. What that means for accident victims is that careful organization is important after an accident. Keep your papers in a file and use your pain journal to record things like how a medication is affecting you.

To find out more about damages, speak to a personal injury lawyer.