If you get into a car accident in Tennessee, you could deal with expensive medical bills, serious personal injuries or costly vehicle repairs. An insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit may propose a financial solution.
A settlement or jury verdict in your favor could result in payment for your economic and noneconomic losses. The at-fault party for the car accident may owe you compensation for many different damages, including the following.
Compensatory damages
Compensatory damages can reimburse you for the losses you suffered because of the car accident. In Tennessee, compensable losses can refer to both out-of-pocket expenses and intangible losses, such as physical pain and emotional suffering. Compensatory damages may include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Property damage repairs
- Lost income and lost capacity to earn
- Lost quality of life
In general, the more severe your injuries, the more compensation your case could be worth. Catastrophic injuries that will permanently impact your life, for example, could make you eligible for significant compensatory damages.
Punitive damages
Punitive damages serve to punish the person who caused your accident more than to reimburse you for losses. Not all cases will result in punitive damages. This is an additional compensation award that could come from a judge during a personal injury trial in Tennessee.
A judge may award you punitive damages if he or she believes compensatory ones are not enough to make up for your serious losses. The judge may also grant punitive damages if the defendant was grossly negligent, reckless or had intent to harm you.
The information here is for educational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice.
