Even worse than being in a car crash is to be in a position of not having health insurance or affording necessary medical care. In cases where a crash is the fault of another party, victims may seek compensation from the person or business causing the crash.
What kind of compensation can you pursue after a car accident?
Medical care is normally the first order of business following a car accident. Car accident victims with serious injuries immediately go to the emergency room, where they may require expensive surgeries. Victims with less serious injuries may undergo lengthy treatment to resolve injuries. Costs of medical treatment quickly adds up, including staying in the hospital, doctor bills, rehabilitation services and medications. For this reason, medical costs tend to represent a large amount of damages that victims pursue in injury claims. If you have medical payments coverage on your policy, it can also help pay related medical bills so you can receive necessary treatment.
While claims relating to medical costs tend to be primary in personal injury claims, victims can seek other damages too. For example, victims may be entitled to payment for pain and suffering and compensation for lost quality of life. If you find that you are not able to do things after the accident that you once enjoyed, you may be able to seek compensation. Another form of compensation includes costs of replacing property destroyed in the crash, including your vehicle. Finally, wages lost while recovering from injuries for missing work may be recovered in a personal injury lawsuit. Keep records of all work you miss as a result of the accident.
In cases of extreme negligence, or willful negligence, parties might also secure compensation for punitive damages. Courts sometimes award punitive damages as a way of punishing an at-fault party.
Contact Merdes Law Office, P.C. to meet with our highly experienced Alaskan personal injury attorney to discuss your case: 907.452.5400 or visit www.merdes.com. And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do.
