The main purpose of any personal injury claim is to recover enough compensation to cover the whole of your damages. This is a deceptively simple task and one that requires the help of a licensed attorney. They will gather the evidence and experts needed to prove your case, but there are some factors that are beyond their control, such as the overall severity of your injuries. The more injured you are, the more you will receive (for the most part). 

Legally speaking, damages are usually categorized as either punitive or compensatory. A majority of plaintiffs need not worry about punitive damages, as they are very rare and very steep fines that are awarded at the court’s discretion. Only the worst 5 percent of accident cases will involve punitive damages. 

Conversely, compensatory damages are the main forms of compensation that are discussed in every case. In general, people are more familiar with these types of damages, including: 

• Medical costs
• Property damage
• Lost wages, damage to future earnings
• Disability 
• Loss of enjoyment 
• Pain and suffering 
• Loss of companionship

As a general rule, a client’s damages will depend on the strength of the evidence and the skill of the attorney. Damages that are easily tallied, such as medical bills and property damages, are much easier to obtain than non-economic losses such as pain and suffering. However, as anyone who has ever been through an accident will tell you, those injuries still exist even if you can’t see them, and a good attorney will be able to argue them successfully.