MONETARY DAMAGES
What Kind of Monetary Damages Can I Expect When I am Injured?
OK, you've been injured as the result of the negligence of someone else, and you've heard that you're entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering. But you also have medical bills; the doctor says you can't work for the next several months, but you only have 2 weeks of vacation and 6 days of sick leave accrued; you're car is totaled; you know you're going to need money to pay for future medical expenses, etc. So, just what kind of damages are you entitled to seek?
MEDICAL BILLS ~ You are entitled to be compensated for the reasonable medical expenses you incur for the treatment of the injuries you suffered WHICH are caused by the negligence of others. This includes not only the expenses you are incurring now, but also the future medical expenses you will incur, prescriptive medication if prescribed by your doctor to treat your injuries, physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, and other types of medical care as well.
COMPENSATION FOR FUTURE CARE ~ The law allows recovery for future expenses that are medically justified due to your injury. With serious injury cases, this can include the costs of nursing care and assisted living, the costs of making your workplace, home and vehicle accessible to you, etc. Other future care costs that may be recovered include the costs of future counseling, further medical treatment and surgery, medications, vocational retraining and other expenses to assist you in the resumption of living your life again.
PAIN & SUFFERING ~ You can recover compensation for pain & suffering, which in Oregon are called "non-economic" damages. This includes compensation for the physical pain you are suffering now, as well as future pain and suffering; this also includes the emotional distress and mental anguish resulting from your injury, the anxiety, loss of sleep and impairment to your normal day-to-day living.
LOSS OF PAST AND FUTURE INCOME ~ You may be able to recover compensation for wages or self-employment income you have lost as a result of your injuries. And if you have suffered permanent injuries interfering with your ability to work and earn income, you may be compensated for your lost earning capacity, possibly for the rest of your work life. It's also possible that your earning ability may be impaired or compromised by a disability caused by your injuries, and you may be able to obtain compensation for that loss as well.
LOSS OF CONSORTIUM ~ In some cases, your spouse may have a claim for loss of consortium, or loss of services and companionship. This might include your inability to assist with normal household chores you did in the past, recovery for loss of companionship, and impairment or elimination of intimacy, etc.
To learn about the full range of the potential damages you have suffered and for which you may be able to seek recovery, go the "contact us" page, and ask for a personal "one-on-one" consultation, free of charge.
Disclaimer: The information contained on this Website is intended to be educational in nature, providing general information only, and is not to be interpreted as legal advice. Visitors to this site should contact a lawyer directly for specific advice about their case. Decisions regarding legal representation should be made only after such direct consultation.