A car accident can impact your life in the blink of an eye. Medical bills, car repairs, missed days of work, and lost wages can quickly add up, leaving you wondering where to turn. In South Carolina, you may be able to seek compensation for these expenses – and possibly more.
In this blog, the legal team at Armada Law in Greenville, SC, breaks down the different types of damages you can recover after a car crash, including both economic and non-economic losses. Our team will also cover how insurance companies determine settlement amounts and how an experienced Greenville car accident lawyer can help you recover the maximum amount you deserve.
Economic Damages and Non-Economic Damages
Damages are the money you can receive after being injured due to another party’s wrongful actions, such as a car accident. In South Carolina, there are two main types of damages you can get after a car accident:
- Economic damages
- Non-Economic damages
Economic damages are the damages you can put a price on. These damages are easier to prove because they have a “paper trail,” such as receipts and records, which can be used as evidence. Economic damages include:
- Medical Expenses: Hospital stays, surgeries, medications, doctor visits, and other related costs.
- Future Medical Costs: If your injuries require ongoing or permanent care.
- Rehab & Equipment: Physical therapy, rehab, and any needed medical equipment.
- Nursing Care: Both in-home and inpatient nursing services.
- Transportation: Costs that include traveling to medical appointments.
- Lost Income: Wages lost due to time missed at work, including sick leave or vacation days used.
- Reduced Earning Potential: When your injuries keep you from doing your job in the same way you did before the accident.
- Property Damage: Repairs or replacement based on fair market value.
- Other Costs: Any other expense linked to your injuries.
In addition, an accident can also majorly impact your quality of life. These damages are called non-economic damages. They are often harder to measure, but are just as important in your recovery. They can include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional and mental distress
- Loss of enjoyment of daily activities and hobbies
- Psychological injuries, such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder
These damages take into account the daily struggles, discomfort, and emotions that an accident can cause. Although they can be hard to measure, they are important in helping you get back to your life and feeling like yourself again.
What are Punitive Damages?
Punitive damages are another type of compensation that can be given in personal injury lawsuits. The goal of these damages is to punish the party who is responsible instead of seeking compensation for your specific losses. Typically, punitive damages are given in cases where the at-fault driver failed to consider the safety of other drivers, such as in drunk driving or reckless driving cases.
Under South Carolina Code Section 15-32-510, the accuser in a car accident case can seek punitive damages, but they cannot demand a specific amount from the responsible party. For these damages, you must prove that the at-fault driver’s recklessness caused your injuries.
A judge or jury will consider several factors when deciding on punitive damages, including:
- How much the defendant (responsible party) is to blame.
- The seriousness of the injuries suffered.
- How the victim’s own actions played a role in the accident and injuries.
- How long did the defendant’s irresponsible or wrongful actions go on?
- Whether the defendant tried to hide their wrongdoing.
- Was the defendant aware of the danger they created?
- Can the defendant pay for these damages?
- Whether the defendant benefited financially from their actions.
- Will the consequences of these damages keep the defendant or others from committing these dangerous acts again in the future?
- Whether the defendant faced any criminal punishments or civil fines as a result of their actions.
Contact a Trusted Personal Injury Lawyer Today
After a car accident in South Carolina, understanding what damages you can receive is an important part of your case and getting the justice you deserve. From medical bills and lost income to pain and suffering, every loss matters, and having a skilled car accident lawyer in Greenville, SC, on your side can make all the difference.
At Armada Law, our experienced team fights to make sure injured victims fairly and fully recover damages after a car accident. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a crash, don’t face the insurance companies alone. Contact Armada Law in Greenville, SC, today for a consultation and learn how we can help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.
