If you suffered from severe injuries in a Virginia motor vehicle accident, you probably understand the many personal and financial hardships that such crashes can cause. You may require hospitalization for a long time, or you could have injuries that will never fully resolve (brain injuries, for example).
As you might imagine, receiving medical care for the harm suffered in a vehicle crash is enormously expensive. Fortunately, the law offers financial damages to most victims, improving their ability to pay their medical bills and recover their other losses.
Are pain and suffering damages an option?
In some situations, yes, you may qualify for pain and suffering (non-economic damages) on top of any economic damages you receive. To explore these financial options, you must first understand the difference between economic and non-economic compensation.
Economic damages are what you get to cover the typical expenses associated with your motor vehicle accident. Examples include:
- Coverage of medical expenses
- Replacement of lost income
- Travel or rental car expenses
- Vehicle repair costs
- Replacement of damaged personal property
In particularly severe motor vehicle accidents, you may also need to seek non-economic awards that address your pain and suffering. For example, if a crash leaves you permanently disabled and unable to earn an adequate income, you probably qualify for pain and suffering. Other accident consequences that could lead to pain and suffering damages include:
- Disfigurement or deformity (and its effect on your psychological health)
- Mental anguish
- Future (and past) inconvenience
- Future (and past) physical pain
If you qualify for pain and suffering, you will appreciate having enough money to ease your hardships as you adjust to your post-accident life. Familiarizing yourself with Virginia vehicle accident and injury laws can ensure you get enough compensation to meet your current and future needs.
