Las Vegas Office: (725) 900-9000 Washington Office: (360) 200-0000
Van Law Firm
  • About Us
    • Attorneys
    • Sandy Van
    • Angela J. Campos
    • Burke Huber
    • Annual Scholarship
  • Practice Areas
    • Motor Vehicle Accident
    • Wrongful Death
    • Workers’ Compensation
    • Uninsured And Underinsured Accidents
    • Personal Injury
    • Product Liability
    • Bad Faith Insurance Claims
    • Camp Lejeune Lawsuit
    • Nursing Home Abuse
    • Las Vegas Defective Drugs and Medical Devices
    • Sexual Abuse
    • Mass Torts
    • Zantac
    • Truck Accident
    • Swimming Pool Injury
  • Testimonials
  • Blogs
    • FAQs
    • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Locations
    • Las Vegas Office
    • Washington Office
    • View All Locatoins
Get My Free Consultation
(725) 900-9000

Home » Blogs » Personal Injury » Defining the Various Types of Damages Awarded in Personal Injury Cases

Defining the Various Types of Damages Awarded in Personal Injury Cases

In the event that you or someone you know is injured due to the actions of another party, you should be eligible to file a personal injury suit to recoup the damages. There are, however, more types of damages than you might think, and so claimants should always consult with an experienced personal injury attorney, so that no money is left on the table during negotiations. Here, we will define all the different types of damages that can be awarded in personal injury cases and the reasoning behind them. 

Compensatory Damages in Personal Injury Litigation 

For a free legal consultation, call (725) 900-9000

The most common type of damages in personal injury claims are known as compensatory damages. As the name suggests, they are designed to reimburse or compensate an accident victim, and they are generally separated into two sections– economic and non-economic. 

Economic

Economic damages are relatively straightforward and simple to calculate. Attorneys and claimants simply have to tally bills and receipts for expenses that were incurred as a result of the accident, such as: 

  • Medical expenses
  • Property damage 
  • Lost wages and damage to future earnings
  • Out-of-pocket costs 

Non-economic 

Non-economic damages refer to any emotional or psychological trauma that a plaintiff has experienced as a result of the incident. These are much more vague in nature, and more difficult to effectively argue. However, they are awarded with regularity, and so they are always within the realm of possibility. Notable examples include:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment
  • Scarring and disfigurement 
  • Loss of spouse/ companionship 
  • Loss of quality of life 

Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today

Attorneys will typically calculate the whole of a plaintiff’s damages using what’s known as a multiplier method– this entails taking the sum of all the economic damages and multiplying it by a number between 1.5 and 5. This multiplier is what constitutes the non-economic damages, and the number will be larger depending on the severity of the case. Cases that are simpler and less severe may not warrant any non-economic damages. 

Punitive Damages: Definition and Application

Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now

Punitive damages are by far the rarest of all types. They are meant to go beyond normal compensation and act as a punishment for especially egregious or reckless behavior. Courts will usually only award punitive damages in very specific cases where they think the defendant could actually pay them, such as a wealthy company who put out a dangerous product, or a wealthy individual who acted especially recklessly. Typically, punitive damages will only be awarded in about 5 percent of total cases. 

Contact with a Trusted Personal Injury Law Firm 

If you or someone you know is looking to recover any of the forms of damages listed above after being injured in an accident that was caused by another, the trusted personal injury attorneys from Van Law Firm can help you get the best medical treatment and the highest possible settlement. 

Don’t just take our word for it– with over 500 5-star reviews online, our satisfied clients are more than enough proof of our quality service and legal expertise. Call our office nearest you today for more information and a no-cost, no-obligation consultation and case review. 

No obligation consultations are always free.

Let Us Help You! Call Now: (725) 900-9000
We are available 24/7

Recent Posts

  • Rampant Water Contamination at Military Bases
  • 23-Year-Old Killed by Cop Car in South Lake Union
  • Is Your Baby Safe in a Shopping Cart?
  • Catching AI-Generated Content
  • Studies Link Hair Relaxers to Cancer

Categories

  • Accidents & Lawsuits
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Auto Accidents
  • Baby Formula Lawsuits
  • Bankruptcy
  • Burn Injuries
  • Bus Acciidents
  • Camp Lejeune
  • Defective Medical Devices
  • Drowning Accidents
  • Drunk Driving Accidents
  • Elmiron
  • Heating Pad Injuries
  • Insurance
  • Legal Alerts
  • Mass Torts
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Motorcycle Accidents
  • News and Updates
  • Nursing Home Abuse
  • Paraquat Lawsuits
  • Park Accidents
  • Pedestrian Accidents
  • Personal Injury
  • Premises Liability
  • Product Liability
  • Sexual Abuse
  • Sexual Assault
  • Slip and Fall Accidents
  • Swimming Pool Accidents
  • Swimming Pool Injuries
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries
  • Truck Accidents
  • Truvada
  • Whiplash Injury
  • Workers Compensation
  • Wrongful Death
  • Zantac

FAQs

What is a Short Sale?

faq thumb

Buying a home After a Short Sale

faq thumb

What is a Deficiency and Why Should I Be Worried?

faq thumb

Find Yourself a Passionate Lawyer Now!

  • Bellingham Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me
  • Boulder City Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me
  • Centennial Hills Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me
  • Henderson Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me
  • Lakewood Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me
  • Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me
  • Nationwide Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me
  • Washington Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me
  • Yakima Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me
  • Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me

Personal Injury Blog Posts:

INSTALLATION OF POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL TECHNOLOGY INSTALLATION OF POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL TECHNOLOGY

Railroads are required to install positive train control technology but a report by the FRA shows that while some railroads have made significant progress, many freight and commuter railroads are no...

KIDS WITH GUNS: WHO IS LIABLE? KIDS WITH GUNS: WHO IS LIABLE?

Gun owners may be liable for the injuries and deaths that are caused when kids accidentally shoot someone. Of the 265 kid-with-gun shootings reported in 2015, 83 resulted in a death. Forty-one young...

CUMULATIVE TRAUMA ON THE TRACKS CUMULATIVE TRAUMA ON THE TRACKS

Cumulative trauma injuries accumulate over time and often result in severe injuries for railroad workers. Railroad workers operate in hostile environments where life-changing accidents are common, b...

E-SCOOTER DANGERS: THE COST OF CONVENIENCE E-SCOOTER DANGERS: THE COST OF CONVENIENCE

E-scooters are becoming increasingly popular across the United States and riders need to be aware of the dangers involved. These motorized vehicles are a top transportation choice among commuters in...

  • Las Vegas, NV
    1290 S Jones Blvd
    Las Vegas, NV 89147

    Get Directions
  • Lakewood, WA
    9311 Bridgeport Way SW
    Lakewood WA 98499

    Get Directions
  • Yakima, WA
    32 N 3rd St STE 304
    Yakima, WA 98901

    Get Directions
Van Law Firm

Van law firm is a personal injury law firm that represents individuals injured by motor vehicle accidents in Las Vegas, Henderson, and throughout Washington. We also represent workers’ compensation cases and people who have been hurt by defective drugs like Zantac, medical devices, and products nationwide.

Contact Info

1290 S Jones Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89146
(725) 900-9000 (702) 800-4662 Get Map & Directions
9311 Bridgeport Way SW
Lakewood, WA 98499
(360) 200-0000 (360) 208-0248 Get Map & Directions
32 N 3rd St STE 304
Yakima, WA 98901
(509) 505-1000 (509) 272-0300 Get Map & Directions

Practice Areas

  • MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT
  • PERSONAL INJURY
  • WRONGFUL DEATH
  • PRODUCT LIABILITY
  • WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
  • BAD FAITH INSURANCE CLAIMS
  • UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED ACCIDENTS
  • NURSING HOME ABUSE
Expertise best personal injury attorney award America's Fastest growing private companies award Honoree Ribbon

Privacy Policy © Copyright 2023 Van Law Firm

Please consult an attorney for advice about your unique and individual situation. This website and its information is not legal advice, nor is it intended to be. Calling our firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Until an attorney-client relationship is established, please withhold from sending any confidential information.