Accidents happen every day. Some of those accidents are the result of negligence by at least one of the involved parties. If you were hurt or lost a loved one in a car or truck crash, a slip and fall incident, or other personal injury accident caused by another person's carelessness, you may be entitled to compensation for financial damages and other losses. Here's what you need to know about compensation for personal injury damages in California, including what you could recover, what you have to prove, and how our exceptional Inland Empire injury lawyer can assist you.
Potential Personal Injury Damages You Can Suffer in California
After an accident, the expenses can really start to pile up. From medical bills, to repair or replace damaged property, it's easy to find yourself trapped beneath a 
mountain of unexpected expenses. Not being able to work while you recover from your injuries—or being unable to return to the same position or go back to work at all—can cause additional financial stress. Personal injury claims and lawsuits let you seek compensation for wide-ranging damages.
As the name suggests, compensatory damages (also known as actual damages) compensate victims for their accident-related losses. Compensatory personal injury damages fall into two categories: economic damages and non-economic damages. Examples of economic compensatory damages include:
- Medical expenses, such as emergency transportation and care, hospital bills, follow-up treatment, prescription drugs, surgical procedures, rehabilitative care, and the cost of future treatment
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Accessibility related home renovations, such as installing ramps or remodeling bathrooms to accommodate wheelchairs or other assistive devices
- Other related out-of-pocket expenses associated with the injuries.
Non-economic damages compensate victims for subjective, non-monetary losses. Examples include physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, inconvenience, scarring or disfigurement, bodily injury leading to disability, loss of relationship with your spouse or partner, and loss of enjoyment of life.
What You Have to Prove in a California Personal Injury Case
Recovering damages in a personal injury case requires proving the following:
- Duty – The defendant owed you a duty of care
- Breach of Duty – The defendant breached that duty
- Causation – Breaching the duty of care caused the accident in question
- Damages – You suffered losses as a result
For example, if you were injured in a car accident, you and your personal injury attorney would work to prove that the defendant had a duty to drive safely (owed you a duty of care), but engaged in negligent behavior behind the wheel (breached the duty of care), which caused the accident (causation) that resulted in your injuries and losses (damages).
Factors That Could Affect Your Recovery
Wondering how much your case might be worth? There are a number of factors that can affect what you can recover in a personal injury case, including:
- The extent of your economic losses
- The nature of your injuries (and whether they resulted in cognitive, physical, or behavioral impairments)
- Whether you can return to work
- Your estimated future medical expenses
- How your injuries affect your daily life
- The emotional impact of the accident and your injuries
- Whether you have legal representation and the quality of your counsel
Making the Most of Your Recovery
There's a lot that goes into determining the value of a personal injury case, and even victims who suffer similar injuries under similar circumstances can receive wildly different settlements and financial awards. Working with a knowledgeable and experienced personal injury attorney can make all the difference. While multiple studies show that just having an attorney can help maximize the value of your case, hiring a particularly skilled injury attorney can help you make the most of your claim and increase the chances for a full and fair recovery. Ready to find out what our accomplished attorneys can do for you?
Schedule a Consultation for Help Recovering Compensation for Personal Injury Damages
Contact the Inland Empire Law Group today at (888) 694-3529 to schedule an appointment for a free initial consultation to discuss your California personal injury damages and find out how we can help you recover financially.
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