Damages in personal injury cases

When there’s a lawsuit, damages might be awarded. Punitive damages are designed as punishment; they’re awarded when someone is found at fault. Compensatory damages are awarded to reimburse people for losses and injuries. Some of these are economic and cover things like lost wages. In Kentucky, pain and suffering damages comprise one non-economic type of compensatory damages available in the event of a personal injury.

Personal injury cases arise when there is some kind of neglect or a failure to perform a duty, resulting in a person being injured. Common examples of personal injury cases include slips and falls in public places, construction defects in buildings, medical malpractice and wrongful death lawsuits. Awards in personal injury suits can range from a few thousand dollars to millions of dollars depending on the circumstances.

Damages awarded for pain and suffering are subjective. Unlike lost wages, they can’t just be added up by tallying medical bills. A jury has to arrive at a number. In some states, there are limits on the amount of damages that can be awarded for pain and suffering. That’s not the case in Kentucky, which may be good news for plaintiffs.

Sometimes, there is long-term mental pain and suffering in the aftermath of an accident. This can mean that the injured party starts to show symptoms like depression, anxiety and an inability to sleep. They may also have waves of anger and feelings of hurt. These issues might be so severe that they make it impossible for the person to work.

In the event of a personal injury, it may be beneficial to seek advice from an experienced attorney. Often, insurance companies make low-ball offers to victims that just don’t take pain and suffering into account. An attorney may advocate for an injured victim to help them obtain fair compensation.