Types of Los Angeles Personal Injury Damages

What Types Of Damages Can I Recover?

If you were involved in a personal injury accident in Los Angeles, there are various types of damages you are permitted to recover.  The first type of damage is compensatory damages.  Compensatory damages are designed to compensate you for the injuries you suffered in the accident.  Compensatory damages may include economic losses, including:

• past medical expenses;
• future medical costs;
• loss of earnings; and
• future earnings through retirement.

Children and other people who cannot prove their past income are still able to recover for these types of injuries.  Generally a court will determine their "probable earning capacity" for what such a person would have been likely to recover if the accident had not occurred.

You may also be entitled to non-economic losses, including such things as:

• emotional anguish;
• pain and suffering;
• loss of consortium; and
• loss of enjoyment of life.

After the value of your damages has been determined in either a settlement or by a judge or a jury during trial, you are generally given a single payment which guarantees payment, instead of multi-month or multi-year payments.  With respect to future payments, the amount is often discounted to account for earned interest on the money given, and the value may also account for such things as inflation.  Additionally, compensatory damages are generally considered tax-free, where it cannot be taxed.

Injured in a Los Angeles personal injury where you wish to seek damages, contact our attorneys today at 800-715-4489!