If you have been injured in an accident caused by someone else, you are likely considering filing a personal injury lawsuit. You are also likely wondering exactly what sort of compensation you may be entitled to. In legal terms, this compensation refers to the “damages” have you suffered as a result of your injury. Let’s take a closer look.

What Types of Damages Can I Sue For?

Damages is the legal term for what a victim has lost in a personal injury accident. Damages include the physical, monetary, and mental impact of your injuries. The types of damages you can sue for will depend on the facts of your case. Generally speaking, you may be able to sue for:

Compensatory Damages

Compensatory damages include what you have lost as a result of your accident. These damages are designed to make you whole, or to restore you as best as possible. This is the most common type of damage, and can further be broken down into:

  • Medical Expenses – Compensates you for past, current, or future anticipated medical expenses resulting from the accident.
  • Lost Wages – If you missed time at work, or are unable to return to work, you may be compensated for these losses.
  • Property Damage – If your property was damaged or lost, then you may be compensated for the value of your items.
  • Pain and Suffering – If you experienced pain, discomfort, or trauma from the accident, you may be compensated for this damage.
  • Loss of Enjoyment of Life – If you were disfigured or disabled in the accident, and are unable to return to daily activities as before, then you may be compensated for loss of enjoyment damages.
  • Loss of Consortium – If you lost your spouse in an accident, then you may be able to pursue compensation for your loss of that relationship, including companionship, support, and even sex.

Punitive Damages

If the person responsible for your injuries was incredibly careless or reckless, or was behaving illegally, then you may also pursue punitive damages. The goal is to punish the responsible party in order to deter him or her, or others who may act carelessly.