Information accident lawyers can use to estimate compensation from a lawsuit in Shenandoah

Shenandoah, LA – In accident lawsuits, compensation is divided into a few different categories of compensation, which include economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages. Lawyers can look at the information available such as the severity of their client’s injuries, if they will miss time from work, and the behavior of the defendant to get an idea of the amount that they should argue for during settlement negotiations.

After any motor vehicle crash it is always important to get specific advice from a local lawyer to determine how these amounts will be factored into the case and the chances of succeeding.

Economic damages

The victim will have costs related to their injuries and need for medical treatment and recovery care. There are also costs of being forced out of work due to an injury. The lawyer can review healthcare bills, wage statements, and other documents with specific amounts on them to try to estimate their client’s economic losses.

Non-economic damages

Damages for pain and suffering, also known as non-economic damages, can be more difficult to estimate because they cannot be proven through specific, tangible costs. The lawyer for the plaintiff needs to be skilled in negotiating based on the plaintiff’s physical pain, mental state, and quality of life losses caused by the incident and their associated injuries. Some lawyers say that this amount should be a multiple of the economic damages in serious accident cases, but there is much discretion left to each individual attorney.

Punitive damages

There are some situations where a defendant in a civil lawsuit has committed some kind of reckless or malicious behavior that can result in serious harm to the public. In these cases, the plaintiff can ask to be awarded punitive damages as a way to punish the defendant. Each state has a slightly different standard regarding when punitive damages can be awarded, and it is not always easy for an accident victim to obtain them. Under Louisiana law, this kind of compensation can only be awarded in an accident lawsuit if the defendant was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In any accident lawsuit that did not involve a drunk driver, economic and non-economic damages are the only compensation available.

Louisiana accident lawyers

Miller, Hampton, and Hilgendorf is a firm that helps people after accidents in the area of Shenandoah and other parts of Louisiana. Their attorneys are available to meet with anyone who has questions about lawsuits after a motor vehicle incident.

USAttorneys.com is a service that gets people connected with the right lawyers in their city. Anyone who needs to speak with a representative about finding a legal professional can call 800-672-3103

Firm contact info:

Miller, Hampton, and Hilgendorf

3960 Government St., Baton Rouge, LA 70806

225-343-2205