Money can never make up for the pain and trauma of a spinal cord injury. But it can help defray some of the burdensome expenses victims and their families must bear when an accident results in catastrophic injuries to a loved one.
The purpose of a civil lawsuit is to hold the negligent person responsible and to compensate (to the extent possible) the injured person for his or her injuries. As a result, a large part of any personal injury lawsuit involving spinal cord injuries will be about the damages you can receive to compensate you for your injuries.
Damages.
Money damages are the compensation that an injured person receives in a lawsuit.
There are generally two types of damages one can get in Louisiana: general damages and special damages.
General damages, also referred to as “non-economic” damages, compensate the injured person for things like “pain and suffering.” Non-economic damages are often more subjective and they vary significantly from case to case.
Unlike special damages, which compensate a person for things like future medical expenses, lost earning capacity, property damage, lost wages, etc., general damages are harder to quantify because they are not related to a specific dollar amount. It is far harder to put a number on human suffering than it is property damage to a car.
Spinal Cord Injury Cases and Their Value.
How much money a case is “worth” or how much money will be awarded to an injured person, then, depends on the facts of each particular case. General damage awards take into account things like the severity of the accident, a person’s age and abilities, culpability, and even things like the compassion of the jury. There is no one single factor, there are no guarantees, and there are lots of variables. This is why you should always hire experienced personal injury counsel to assist you.
When it comes to spinal cord injury cases, the primary factor that determines the value of the case is the severity of the injury. Spinal cord injuries frequently cause life-long disability. Factors, such as rehabilitation services, caregivers, future medical treatments, and surgeries will influence the cost of a case.
The severity of the injury also influences other factors such as the person’s future earning capacity—whether he can return to work on a limited basis or not at all.
Other factors that could affect your award are a state’s “caps” on damages. For example, in Louisiana, claims for medical malpractice, or against the government, and certain car accident claims under the “no pay, no play” rules have damage caps. Therefore it is always important that you speak to experienced personal injury counsel.
Dedicated To Getting Injury Victims the Compensation They Deserve.
At the Day Law Group, we handle personal injury cases including spinal injury cases. We offer FREE consultations, and we don’t get paid unless you win your case. We have offices in Baton Rouge, and we serve Baker, Denham, Gonzales, Port Allen, Prairieville, New Orleans, and Zachary. Call (225) 465-1232 ToDay to schedule your free consultation or contact us here.