A car accident in Phoenix can disrupt your life in many ways. While a financial award will not solve all of your problems, it can help you move forward with greater peace of mind. In Arizona, the driver or party that caused your car accident will be responsible for your damages. The compensation you receive after a car accident can cover many different types of losses for you and your family, depending on your case.
Past and Future Medical Costs
The main category of damages during a car accident claim is medical coverage. Every driver in Arizona must carry bodily injury liability insurance. Filing a claim against this type of insurance could lead to a check for your past and future medical needs. This can include the costs of doctor’s appointments, specialists, emergency care, x-rays, treatments, surgeries, rehabilitation, therapy, medications, medical devices and live-in care. A medical award should cover the full value of your necessary health care needs after a car accident – even if the crash gave you millions of dollars in lifetime costs, which could be a possibility if you have a catastrophic injury.
Property Damages
If the car accident damaged or totaled your vehicle, you could seek compensation for what it will take to repair your car and put it back on the road. You will need to acquire a repair estimate from a mechanic in your city to submit to the insurance company for this type of damage award. If the mechanic believes your vehicle is a total loss, you will submit the pre-crash value of your vehicle to the insurance company instead. The at-fault driver’s insurance provider may have to pay for the full value of your totaled vehicle. If the accident damaged other types of property, such as your cell phone or laptop, you could recoup the costs of these items as well.
Lost Wages
Most car accident victims have to take at least a few days off of work to receive medical care and recover enough to go back to the office. If you had to miss work and lost wages because of your auto accident, you can hold the negligent party responsible for the full value of your lost wages. You can use pay stubs and a letter from your employer to help establish these damages during an insurance claim.
Out-of-Pocket Costs
A car crash could give you many out-of-pocket costs, such as the costs of a rental car and travel expenses, plus legal fees to hire an attorney and go to court, if necessary. The defendant may owe you compensation for 100% of the out-of-pocket expenses related to your collision.
Pain and Suffering
Another major category of damages you could request during a car accident lawsuit in Arizona is pain and suffering. Pain and suffering can refer to all of your noneconomic and intangible losses from the car crash. These may include emotional and mental distress, anguish, psychological trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment, and loss of consortium. You may need a lawyer to help you estimate the value of your pain and suffering damages during a car accident claim.
Punitive Damages
Although it is uncommon, a judge in Phoenix can award punitive damages during a car accident case. Punitive damages do not reimburse you for your expenses. Instead, they force a defendant to pay you more money as a form of punishment. A judge may grant you punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages if you or your car accident attorney can prove that the defendant was grossly negligent or intended to injure you.
If you are curious about what your car accident case could be worth in Phoenix, contact a car accident attorney for an in-depth evaluation.