Car Accidents And Widespread Misery
Anyone who has been the victim of a careless driver and was injured knows how far-reaching the effects can be. It's safe to say that the way a car accident affects a victim is only the beginning. Anyone who loves and cares about an accident victim can be negatively affected by it as well, and their losses may be recoverable. Read on to find out more about this particular kind of personal injury damage.
Common Accident Damages
In most cases, car accident victims could be entitled to a host of damages. For a typical car accident case, those damages might be the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages and lost career opportunities
- Pain and suffering
- Lost or damaged personal property like the vehicle and more
While more uncommon, some accident victims and their loved ones could be entitled to what is known as loss of consortium damages.
Understanding Loss Consortium
If you have heard about this form of loss at all, you may have only focused on the sexual aspect of things. While a loss of consortium does include the loss of sexual relationships with a loved one who was injured by another driver, it's also other things. Almost anyone who is part of the victim's family or who lives with the victim may be entitled to compensation as a result of loss of consortium. While the covered individuals vary by state, it often includes close family members but not always minor-aged children. This form of damage is an attempt to provide some financial compensation to those who have suffered from the loss of the physical and spiritual support of a loved one. It's about affection, companionship, and care and how victims may be unable to provide those things because of a careless driver.
Calculating Compensation
It can seem impossible to put a dollar figure on the losses mentioned above. The amount loved ones may be entitled to depend on the following factors:
- The seriousness of the victim's injuries. For example, the compensation for a serious injury that included months of rehabilitation may be less than that for a permanent injury. In most cases, cases with minor injuries are not appropriate for loss of consortium damages.
- The relationships involved. For example, a spouse may be entitled to more compensation than a new love interest who just moved in.
If you plan to ask for this form of accident damage, you will definitely need legal help. Speak to a personal injury lawyer about your case at once. While it can be more challenging to prove a loss of consortium, it's not impossible to gain compensation. Speak to a personal injury lawyer about your case or click here for more info about car accident law.
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