If you are injured because of another party’s negligence or wrongdoing, as in the case of
a car accident, defective medical device, or dangerous drug, you sustain numerous
damages. You may sustain financial or economic damages because of the injury. However,
you may also sustain noneconomic damages. A personal injury claim can provide
compensation for both economic and noneconomic damages.
If you have been injured in a traffic accident or by a defective medical product, contact
the New Orleans personal injury attorneys of The Olinde Firm for a free
consultation. We are here to help you when you are suffering
because of another party’s negligent acts.
What Are Economic Damages in a NOLA Injury Case?
Economic damages are the direct financial losses you experience because of an injury or
accident. These damages have an exact financial value. You can calculate your economic
damages by adding together the expenses and losses related to the accident,
injury, and recovery.
Examples of economic losses in a personal injury case include, but are not limited to:
- Medical treatment, including hospitalizations,
surgeries, and doctor visits - Medications and medical equipment
- Physical, vocational, and
occupational therapy - Mental health counseling and therapy
- Loss of income, including wages,
bonuses, benefits, commissions, and self-employment income - Travel expenses
- Personal care and assistance with household
care
If you sustain a permanent impairment or disability, you could be entitled to future economic damages. Future economic damages are more difficult to calculate because there is not an invoice or bill for those losses.
The total of future economic damages depends on a variety of factors, including the person’s age, education, career, life expectancy, and economic outlook. Medical and economic experts often assist attorneys in projecting the future economic damages in a personal injury case.
What are Noneconomic Damages in a NOLA Injury Case?
Noneconomic damages are more difficult to calculate because there is no hard evidence of noneconomic damages. These damages are often referred to as “pain and suffering” damages.
Pain and suffering damages reduce the victim’s quality of life and enjoyment of life.
There is no way to quantify how much a person suffers because of an injury or
illness. Some insurance companies downplay the impact of noneconomic damages on
a person’s life.
However, our NOLA personal injury lawyers know that noneconomic damages can have a
devastating and long-term impact on an individual and family.
Examples of noneconomic damages include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental and psychological distress and
- Emotional disorders, including depression,
PTSD, and anxiety - Loss of love and companionship
- Disfigurement, scarring, and
disability - Loss of sexual function
- Reduction in overall quality of life
Our legal team works with you to document how an injury or illness has impacted your
daily life. We also work with experts to determine the severity of your
injuries and how those injuries are expected to impact your future.
It can be very helpful to keep pain and suffering journal. In your journal, make notes
about your daily pain levels and how your injuries impact your daily living
activities. We can use that information as evidence when demanding maximum
value of noneconomic damages.
Contact a New Orleans Personal Injury Attorney for Help
We are here to help you when you need support, guidance, and legal counsel after an injury. Our law firm handles a variety of personal injury claims, including traffic
accidents and defective products.
Contact Attorney Fred Olinde or another member of our legal team to discuss your case. Call (504) 587-1440 or 1-800-587-1889 to schedule a free consultation
with one of our Louisiana personal injury lawyers.