Many injuries to an accident victim’s head or brain can result in long periods of medical treatment and, in some cases, lifelong care and rehabilitation. Generally speaking, the more serious the head or brain injury, the more compensable that injury is. Although money is a poor substitute for a debilitating or permanent brain injury, it is the best that can be obtained in a personal injury claim or lawsuit.
Severe brain injuries may result in the need for both economic and non-economic damages. The purpose of economic damages is to satisfy an accident victim’s out-of-pocket costs associated with the injury or injuries from which they suffer. For example, economic damages may compensate an accident victim for the medical bills that he or she incurred, as well as for lost earnings from missed time at work.
In addition to economic damages resulting from a brain injury, an accident victim may pursue non-economic damages in these types of cases. Non-economic damages non-monetary losses that an accident victim may suffer. For example, an accident victim who suffers a severe brain injury may recover compensation for the loss of one of the five senses, pain, mental distress, emotional anguish, permanency, or permanent inability to work. Moreover, a brain injury accident victim may make a claim for loss of spousal companionship and support.
If the accident that led to the brain injury caused particularly severe symptoms, and the at-fault person or persons acted in a particularly egregious manner, then the accident victim may claim punitive damages. The primary purpose of punitive damages is to punish the at-fault person for the injuries and damages he or she caused. These damages go above and beyond the pain, suffering, and inconvenience compensated by non-economic damages.
An experienced Atlanta brain injury attorney can review your case and determine which damages to seek in your brain injury case.
