If you’ve been injured in a vehicle accident because of someone else’s negligence, you probably know you’re entitled to compensation for your injuries.
But did you know the compensation you receive is dependent on the type of harm incurred? It’s important to work with an experienced Monroe car accident attorney who can accurately estimate the value of loss you have suffered in a crash.
As the result of a car accident, you may suffer two general types of harm:
You can probably guess what economic harm includes:
It’s items like your medical expenses, any lost wages due to injuries, and the costs of having your car repaired or replaced.
The value of non-economic harm, on the other hand, is harder to peg with a dollar figure. It includes categories like your physical pain and suffering, any emotional consequences, and the loss of your enjoyment of life.
Losses from an auto accident also can be sorted according to the object of the harm: people and vehicles. Among the harm caused to people, some losses are economic.
Medical expenses: If you’ve suffered mental or emotional injuries, you may need medical care now and in the future. Your attorney will work with a medical professional to help you get better and to estimate the ongoing costs of your care.
Compensation for medical expenses may include:
Your attorney will assist you in gathering documentation to prove that your medical expenses are directly related to injuries you suffered in an accident.
Household help: You may need help with household tasks while you recover and even on a permanent basis, depending on the extent of your injuries. If you would not have incurred the expense if you hadn’t been injured, you may be entitled to compensation.
Lost income and lost earning capacity: If you lose wages or the ability to earn money in the future because of an accident, you may receive compensation.
Other human losses related to accidents are non-economic and can include:
When a vehicle is damaged in a crash, the resale value may be diminished even if the vehicle is repaired. For the owner this means:
Diminution — or reduction — in the value of the vehicle.
So even if you’re compensated for the cost of repairing your car after an accident, you may be entitled to additional compensation for the lost value ("diminished value of your vehicle").
Under Louisiana law, you may be entitled to recover damages related to diminution if:
If you’ve suffered loss in an accident — either from personal injury or damage to your vehicle — it’s important to work with an experienced Monroe car accident attorney. For a consultation, please contact J. Antonio Tramontana at 318-340-1515.
In the United States in 2014, an estimated 221,000 people, age 65 and older, were injured in motor vehicle accidents and 5,709 were killed. These elderly people comprised 17% of the total traffic-related fatalities that year and 9% of traffic-related injuries. A year later, 4,366 people, age 70 and older, were killed in motor vehicle accidents, which is a […]
Drivers all over the state of Louisiana are facing high costs when it comes to operating their vehicles, and poor road conditions might be the most harrowing. A recent article in The Greater Baton Rouge Business Report stated how bad the road conditions actually are in Baton Rouge, and there’s evidence of major road troubles […]
If you find yourself in a future fender bender in New Orleans, don’t be surprised if a civilian is the one investigating it. The city recently green-lighted a plan for common folk and possibly retired police officers, under the management of a New-Orleans based “civil traffic accident investigation and support” firm, to be given contracts […]
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for a child passenger in the United States. Child safety seats are required in every state because they’re proven to maximize safety for a child passenger in the event of a car accident. Using a car […]
If you were injured in an auto accident in Louisiana, your personal injury case is subject to a different set of rules than had you been in another state. Louisiana is a direct action state, which means parties injured in a car accident can name an insurance carrier in a lawsuit. This is not something […]
From 2014 to 2016, more than 90 people were involved in fatal accidents in Tangipahoa Parish. That statistic, according to a campaigner working to reduce the number of avoidable deaths, is too many, and indicates that change is needed in Louisianans’ driving habits. Donna Miller, Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller’s wife, is a local businesswoman […]
A recent study has identified US 90 running through South Louisiana as the most dangerous highway in the entire state, also reportedly the 13th most dangerous highway in the country. A recent study has identified US 90 running through South Louisiana as the most dangerous highway in the entire state, also reportedly the 13th most […]
Louisiana certainly has its share of leisure and entertainment activities, and it is well-known for its live music and street festivals. However, a new study shows that people who live in the state are generally stressed out. WalletHub recently ranked all U.S. states according to a stress survey it created, which compiled results and gave […]
Even though fatal car crashes in the United States have decreased in number, traffic collisions remain a grave problem. It’s a promising sign that there were approximately 10,000 fewer accidents in 2014 than in 2004, but 32,675 people were still killed in auto accidents. The Most Dangerous States Baed on Fatalities Even though fatal car […]
Riding a bike, especially on public roadways, is about more than learning to balance on two wheels: it’s something that drivers, as well as cyclists, must take seriously or risk injury or even death. To stay safe on shared roadways in Louisiana, cyclists should become fluent in the state’s bicycle laws to minimize risk to […]
