After suffering catastrophic motor vehicle accidents, victims need to know what kind of damages they may acquire. Seeking financial compensation is not a matter of greed; it is a matter of need.
Serious vehicle accidents typically result in catastrophic injuries such as spinal cord damage or traumatic brain injury. Victims need compensation to get medical treatment and to improve the financial hardships that arise after a crash.
WHAT DAMAGES CAN VICTIMS PURSUE?
When catastrophic motor vehicle accidents happen because of another party’s negligent or reckless behavior, victims have several compensation options. Economic damages, or those that cover financial loss, are usually the first type of damages a victim with attorney guidance pursues. Examples of these damages include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost income and lost earning capacity
- Personal property (damaged vehicle) repair or replacement
- Household services
If you played no part in causing the accident, you can probably get the maximum amount in economic damages available to Texas crash victims.
What about punitive damages?
It is also possible to pursue and win noneconomic damages as well. In catastrophic motor vehicle accidents resulting in severe injuries or death, victims may acquire damages covering the following.
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship (for the family of a deceased victim)
- Disabling injuries
If the other driver’s behavior behind the wheel was especially reprehensible, victims could qualify for punitive damages. These damages, which are meant to punish negligent motorists, can increase the compensation you acquire significantly. However, you will likely need legal assistance to pursue these damages successfully. In most cases, it is notoriously hard to win punitive damages in the state of Texas.
