What are Some Recoverable Damages in a Car Accident?

San Diego is a destination city with historic sites and scenic vistas. But it’s also a high-traffic area where nearly 300 car accident fatalities occurred in 2021. A car accident can have a devastating impact on your life. Dealing with pain, medical procedures, and ongoing treatment as well as the property damage to your vehicle can become overwhelming. When the medical bills begin coming in and you’ve lost many days of work during your recovery, you begin to realize that the accident itself was only the beginning of the distressing turn your life has taken. It may be difficult to take on the challenge of a legal case while you’re focusing on your recovery, but a car accident attorney can shoulder some of the burdens for you and put together a highly effective case to secure full financial compensation for your damages.

In an at-fault accident state like California, it matters who caused the accident. That person’s insurance company must pay out on your claim for damages.

Understanding Economic and Non-Economic Damages

No one should have to take on powerful insurance companies alone when their profits depend on undervaluing claims, minimizing payouts, or denying them completely. A skilled car accident attorney in San Diego can help you recover the compensation you deserve so you can focus on your recovery with fewer financial concerns.

California’s civil courts award compensation for “damages” in cases where the at-fault driver’s insurance company and the injury victim cannot come to a mutually agreeable settlement during negotiations. Damages include both easily calculable economic damages, but also non-economic damages such as your pain and suffering. While financial compensation cannot undo pain, it is the civil court’s way of righting a wrong so you achieve a sense of justice and some consolation for your suffering. 

What Damages Can I Gain in a Car Accident Case in San Diego?

If your car accident left you with significant injuries and someone else was at fault, you deserve compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. A successful car accident claim can compensate you for the following damages:

• Your medical expenses
• Future medical expenses for ongoing treatments or necessary procedures
• Lost wages from missed workdays during your recovery
• Future lost wages if you need additional surgery or procedures and recovery time
• Diminished future earnings if your accident left you with permanent disabilities
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium (when significant injuries impact your enjoyment of a full physical and emotional relationship with a spouse and/or the ability to care for, support, and enjoy activities with children)
• Loss of quality of life

By collecting evidence such as your accident report, medical records, and employment records, an attorney can show the economic and non-economic damages the accident caused you and secure maximum compensation for your damages.

Will I Need to Go to Court to Recover Damages?

In the overwhelming majority of car accident cases, insurance companies settle out of court after negotiating with your attorney. A skilled San Diego personal injury attorney will craft a compelling case and strongly negotiate on your behalf for a full settlement offer. In the event that the insurance company won’t offer a fair and reasonable settlement, your attorney will file a lawsuit and argue aggressively for you in court to maximize your chance for a favorable jury verdict and court award for your damages.

By recovering damages after a car accident, you can gain access to the best medical care and enjoy fewer financial worries for yourself and your family while you focus on the best possible recovery. Reach out to a San Diego car accident lawyer today for more information.