What Constitutes Damages in Georgia Personal Injury Cases?

Suffering injuries due to another’s negligent or wrongful actions can change your life in a flash. You are most likely facing costly medical expenses, lost income, emotional distress, pain, suffering and reduced quality of life. If you or someone you love was hurt in an accident in Georgia, you may qualify for monetary compensation for all your injury-related losses or damages.

The Georgia personal injury lawyers at Banks, Stubbs & McFarland can assess your case, determine the strength and validity of your claim against the person or entity that hurt you, and pursue all personal injury damages you’re entitled to, which can include the following:

Economic Damages in Georgia Personal Injury Cases

These damages are straightforward and have specific dollar amounts, which usually include, but aren’t limited to, the following:

  • Medical Expenses – These include all medical expenses, including those for medical treatments, hospital stays, emergency services, copays for medications, assistive devices, physical therapy, chiropractic care, transportation costs to and from doctor visits, and home health care, among others.
  • Past Lost Wages – These include how much money you would’ve earned up until the present time had you not been hurt in the accident.
  • Lost Benefits – These benefits include payment for lost paid time off or vacation days.
  • Future Lost Wages – These include how much money you are projected to earn in the future until the age of retirement had you not been hurt in the wreck.
  • Property Damage – This includes the cost to replace or repair your property that has been damaged in the accident, like a vehicle, and the valuable items inside it after a car crash.

Non-Economic Damages in Georgia Personal Injury Cases

These damages are inherently subjective, which means they’re harder to quantify and don’t have a predetermined amount. Non-economic damages are left to the conscience of a fair and impartial jury and typically include:

  • Loss of enjoyment of life or reduced quality of life
  • Emotional and mental distress and anguish, including anxiety, depression, sleep issues, PTSD, or anger
  • Pain and suffering
  • Humiliation
  • Loss of reputation
  • Physical scarring or disfigurement
  • Permanent or long-term disability, such as loss of hearing, vision, limb, or bodily function
  • Loss of Earning Capacity - If you suffered severe injuries that made you incapable of going back to work or had to take on a lesser-paying job, you can receive compensation for your loss of the potential to earn income.

While subjective, there are ways to accurately calculate the value of non-economic damages. Our Georgia personal injury lawyers will calculate the value of your non-economic losses and the specific damages you can pursue after assessing your case. For example, if you sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that would prevent you from working and having a social life, your lawyer will include these damages when building your personal injury case.

Punitive Damages in Georgia Personal Injury Cases

These damages are meant to punish the person that hurt you if they acted violently, maliciously, or recklessly when they injured you. The potential for punitive damages can significantly increase the value of your case.

Consult With a Skilled Georgia Personal Injury Lawyer Now

To learn more about the damages you can recover in a Georgia personal injury case, reach out to Banks, Stubbs & McFarland today. Set up your free case review with our Georgia personal injury lawyers by sending us an online message or calling 770-887-1209.