Thursday, March 10, 2016

What are the economic damages a victim can claim in a drunk driving accident?

It goes without saying that if a plaintiff is gravely injured due to negligence of a drunk driver he/she will be able to recover economic damages but legal help will be required and hopefully that person is not an illegal alien! The extent of the recovery is determined after taking into account the seriousness of your injuries and how it has impacted your present income or how it will affect your earning capability in the future. Hartford, CT drunk driving accident lawyers know that the victim’s relatives can also claim certain damages.

Disfigurement Compensation

If you have suffered permanent disfigurement such as amputation or scars you can are entitled to receive compensation for mental anguish.

Future Medical Costs

If the plaintiff is able to prove with the help from doctors that he/she will need continued medical treatments for the injuries then the jury may allow the plaintiff to collect damages for future treatments. For instance, if you have hurt your spine and need to undergo physiotherapy for sometime then you can recover the costs in your DUI accident claim.

Household Services

Drunk driving accident attorneys in Connecticut also stress that in the event you are forced to engage hired help to carry out household chores, you can claim for additional compensation. 

Loss of Consortium

Injuries deprive individuals who are in marital relationships of certain benefits such as solace, companionship, and sexual relations. Usually this type of claim is made by the spouse who was unhurt. However the spouse’s claim is honored only when the plaintiff is able to recover compensation for his/her injuries. Remember, the injured spouse can also claim loss of consortium compensation. The value depends on a number of factors such as the life expectancy of spouses, whether the relationship was stable, and how much care and companionship existed between the two. In addition, the judge or jury also considers the extent of the loss of marital benefits.

Loss of Ability to Enjoy of Life

If a plaintiff before the accident has enjoyed certain hobbies like playing guitar, basketball, or working out in a gym and is unable to undertake those activities any more due to the debilitating trauma he or she can claim damages.

Diminished Earning Capacity

Let’s say that when an individual has lost his earning capacity permanently due to injuries he/she is entitled to claim compensation. Several components such as age, income before the accident, health, skills, training, experience, and life expectancy are factored in to extract a value for lost earnings.
Lost Wages

The plaintiff is compensated for loss of income from the date of the accident to the date of the settlement. In the movie Remember the Titans and in real life since it was based on a true story, Gerry Bertier lost his focus and got into a car accident. Not only did he miss the rest of the season and their championship run he was crippled for life. Even more tragic, ten years later, he was killed by a drunk driver on the highway in a drunk driving accident. The first accident was mechanical failure, the second accident was human drunkenness. The Bertier family would need something like a Hartford, CT drunk driving accident lawyer but one in Virginia since that is where this terrible accident occurred.   

Bertier’s family could not use this incredible website: Drunk-Driving-Accident.USAttorneys since this tragedy occurred in 1981. But you can and you should. Contact us if you have any questions. Click on that link!


Medical Expenses

Hospital expenses including surgery costs, medication costs, lab test costs, and other treatment-related bills can be recovered under this type of compensation.

Pain and Suffering

The jury also awards damages for the pain that plaintiff has suffered in the past after the accident and for the pain he/she will suffer in future. The award is made after consideration of the type of injury and on a rough estimate of the quantum or amount of pain he/she will face in the near future.

Permanent Disability

Often plaintiffs receive compensation for permanent disability. However, to prove that the plaintiff is an ideal candidate to receive this award, testimonials from medical experts needs to be presented before the jury.

If you are suffering from the harrowing after effects of an accident caused by a drunk driver, you have the right to claim compensation. However, make sure to consult a drunk driving accident lawyer in Connecticut as soon as possible for a free assessment of your personal injury case and to determine if your claim will hold in a court of law. Make the phone call! Do not sign anything with anyone until you do. The other insurance company will try to get you to sign off on a settlement before you secure any legal help. 

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