In a personal injury lawsuit, the term “damages” refers to the money the law allows victims to recover when they can prove that someone breached their duty of care and that this breach resulted in injuries.
In Connecticut personal injury cases, there are three types of damages. These include:
- General damages
- Special damages
- Punitive damages
If you are in a situation where you believe you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit, it’s smart to get in touch with our legal team at Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers. We can help you understand what damages you may be entitled to and how each one applies to your case. You can learn more about the different types of personal injury damages you can recover here, as well.
The first thing to know is that both general and special damages are called compensatory damages. This means the goal is to compensate victims for the losses they have suffered. In some cases, the damages are called economic and non-economic.
The last type of damages is punitive damages. These are typically awarded in a situation where there were serious cases of recklessness that caused an injury. Punitive damages in Connecticut aren’t as common in personal injury lawsuits, but they may apply in some situations.
Compensatory Damages
The first type of compensatory damages is non-economic damages. These aren’t that easy to calculate. The most common examples of general damages include things like:
- Mental anguish
- Dismemberment or disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
These aren’t the same thing as special damages, which are economic damages. With these types of damages, you are receiving compensation for specific costs related to your accident and injury. Some of the most common types of special damages that may be awarded in a personal injury lawsuit include:
- All medical-related costs
- Any future medical costs
- Lost earnings (past and future)
Punitive Damages
You can recover punitive damages if there is a situation where the actions of the defendant were extremely reckless or harmful.
For example, the judge over your case may decide to award punitive damages if a company knew of the risks with a medication that was being manufactured but failed to disclose them. Then one or several parties experienced injuries. The purpose of punitive damages is to punish the defendant while discouraging others from doing the same thing in the future.
Getting to Know the Different Types of Personal Injury Cases
Damages may be available to those who are injured in many different situations. Some of the most common include:
Car Accidents
Vehicle accidents often result in a personal injury claim. If a negligent driver results in a collision, they may be considered liable for the damages the victim experiences.
Slips, Trips, and Falls
A slip, trip, or fall situation occurs when the owner of a property fails to correct or creates a hazard that causes injury to a guest. This includes a grocery store where there is a crack in the floor that results in a customer falling. A slip, trip, and fall case is a type of premises liability claim, which includes things such as a lack of signage, poor lighting, negligent security, and more.
Dog Bites
Dog bites may cause an infection, disease, or serious scarring. If a dog bites and injures someone else, then the owner may be liable for the damages that their pet causes.
Medical Malpractice
Cases of medical malpractice are more common than many people realize. In fact, around 250,000 people die each year because of medical errors. If the care of a doctor or another healthcare provider falls below what is considered a reasonable medical standard and patients suffer, then the doctors can be held liable by filing a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Protecting Your Rights and Recovering Damages in a Personal Injury Lawsuit
Have you suffered an injury in an accident in Connecticut? Was it determined that another party was negligent, and their negligence resulted in your injuries? If so, you can recover damages by filing a personal injury lawsuit. The best way to protect your rights is by getting in touch with our legal team at Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers. We will review the facts of your case and help you recover the compensation you are due. As you can see from the information above, there are more than a few types of compensation that you can recover. The first step is to contact us via phone or online to schedule a free consultation to discuss your situation. We are ready to help protect your rights.
Read More