What Types of Compensation Can I Claim After a Car Accident?

If someone has been in a car accident in Kentucky, it’s natural for them to wonder about the compensation they could receive. Compensation aims to help people recover the costs and losses from an accident. This is key as it offers financial support for what they’ve been through and helps car accident victims move forward from the ordeal.

Insurance laws are confusing in Kentucky, so it is always advisable to seek the services of a reputable car accident attorney to help with the legal process. Wilt Injury Lawyers understand what it takes to achieve fair and complete compensation for injured clients. They work tirelessly to ensure that no loss is overlooked and that clients receive what they’re entitled to.

Economic and Non-Economic Damages

In Kentucky, the types of compensation for car accident cases depend on the claim someone pursues, such as PIP or third-party at-fault claims. Accident victims must either opt out of the no-fault system or meet certain criteria to qualify for a third-party claim. 

PIP claims provide limited medical, lost income coverage, and other out-of-pocket expenses. In many cases, third-party claims can provide greater compensation, including economic and non-economic damages. These two categories help cover the actual costs you’ve had to pay and the personal, harder-to-measure losses.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are straightforward costs that cover the expense one can easily put a number on. Personal injury lawyers consider them the bills and expenses that pile up directly because of the accident. Some common examples include:

• Medical bills. Any doctor visits, surgeries, hospital stays, medications, and therapy costs are all part of your medical expenses. Even future medical costs, if the injury will need more treatment, should be part of this compensation.
• Lost earnings. If the accident prevented them from working, they could seek compensation for lost income. This includes past and future wages, meaning if their injury keeps them from working for a while, those future lost wages are also covered.
• Property damage. If the crash damages a car or other personal belongings, the law allows for compensation for repairing or replacing them.

Economic damages are relatively easy to add up because they come from bills and pay stubs. However, it’s still essential to work with a lawyer who can accurately assess all the costs and future expenses that might not immediately be obvious.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages cover the intangible impact of the accident. These losses are still significant but don’t have a price tag. For example:

• Pain and suffering. The compensation is intended for the physical pain and discomfort the individual might experience due to the accident.
• Emotional distress. This addresses the emotional injuries from the collision, such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD.
• Loss of enjoyment of life. If the injuries disallow the victim from enjoying activities or hobbies they once loved, this loss may also be compensated.

Calculating non-economic damages can be challenging since these losses don’t come with direct bills or documentation. However, with an attorney’s help, car accident victims can get a fair valuation for these effects.

Kentucky does not place caps on most damages in car accident cases, meaning you have the potential to claim for the full impact of the accident on your life. The law allows victims to seek fair recovery for all their losses. However, claims against the government are an exception, with caps for claims with multiple injured parties.

If the car accident occurred while at work, workers’ compensation claims in Kentucky do not cover non-economic damages. However, these damages can still be pursued if a third-party injury lawsuit is possible. When possible, a car accident lawyer can help pursue recovery for the full scope of the economic and non-economic losses.

Seek Help from a Car Accident Attorney in Kentucky for Compensation

For those who have been injured in a car accident in Kentucky, consulting a lawyer is key to securing fair and complete compensation. Wilt Injury Lawyers have earned the Super Lawyers status, which indicates a high level of experience and dedication to the injured clients.

Our car accident lawyers in Kentucky are highly skilled and know how to ensure every aspect of a claim is thoroughly evaluated. For more insightful advice on the available compensation after a car accident, reach out to us today and embark on the path to recovery.