What types of damages are available in a personal injury claim in Forsyth, Missouri?

The personal injury laws in Forsyth, Missouri are designed to provide victims of negligence with compensation for their injuries. When someone is injured due to the careless or reckless actions of another person, they may be able to seek damages through a civil lawsuit. Personal injury claims can involve a variety of different types of damages, from economic losses to emotional suffering. In order to understand what types of damages are available in a personal injury claim in Forsyth, Missouri, it is important to look at each type and how they might apply in a given situation.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are intended to compensate an injured person for any financial losses they incurred as a result of their injury. These damages typically include medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and any other out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident or injury. In some cases, economic damages can also include future losses such as lost earning capacity or future medical expenses.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are intended to compensate an injured person for any intangible losses they incurred due to their injury. These damages typically include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium, and loss of enjoyment of life. Non-economic damages are often awarded in cases where the injured party has suffered severe physical or emotional harm that cannot be easily quantified financially.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are designed to punish a defendant for malicious or reckless behavior and act as a deterrent against similar conduct in the future. These damages are usually only awarded in cases where the defendant acted with intentional malice or gross negligence. Punitive damages are not available in every state and are rarely awarded due to their often exorbitant amounts.

Compensatory Damages

Compensatory damages are designed to make an injured party “whole” again by compensating them for all losses suffered due to the negligence of another party. Compensatory damages can include both economic and non-economic losses such as medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more. The amount of compensatory damages awarded in Forsyth will depend on the specific facts of each case and the severity of the injury suffered by the victim.

In Forsyth, Missouri personal injury claimants may be eligible for a variety of different types of damages depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding their case. Economic damages such as medical bills and lost wages can be recovered if they were incurred as a direct result of an injury caused by another party’s negligence. Non-economic damages such as pain and suffering or emotional distress can also be recovered if there was sufficient proof that these losses were directly caused by another person’s negligent actions. Punitive damages may also be available if the defendant acted with intentional malice or gross negligence but these awards are usually much smaller than other types of compensatory awards. Lastly, compensatory damages may be available if all other types have been exhausted in order to make an injured party “whole” again by providing compensation for all losses suffered due to another person’s negligence.