What types of damages can I recover in a personal injury claim in Cape Girardeau, Missouri?

When someone is injured due to someone else’s negligence in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, they may be able to recover damages through a personal injury claim. Personal injury claims are designed to help victims of accidents and negligence seek compensation for their losses. Depending on the circumstances of an accident, a victim may be able to collect both economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

The most common type of damages that a victim can seek in a personal injury claim are economic damages. These types of damages are intended to compensate victims for their financial losses as a result of their injury. Economic damages typically include medical bills, lost wages, and property damage related to the accident. If a victim is unable to work due to their injuries, they may also be able to seek compensation for future lost wages and earning capacity.

Non-Economic Damages

In addition to economic damages, victims may also be able to seek non-economic damages in their personal injury claim. Non-economic damages are designed to compensate victims for the emotional and physical pain and suffering they have endured as a result of the accident or injury. This includes things like mental anguish, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium (the inability to have meaningful relationships with loved ones).

Punitive Damages

In some cases, victims may also be able to seek punitive damages in their personal injury claim. Punitive damages are intended to punish wrongdoers for particularly egregious behavior by awarding additional money beyond what is necessary for compensating the victim’s losses. In order for punitive damages to be awarded in a personal injury case, the defendant must have acted with malice or gross negligence.

Wrongful Death Damages

If an injury results in death, the victim’s family may be able to pursue wrongful death damages. Wrongful death damages are designed to compensate surviving family members for their losses as a result of the death of their loved one. This can include things like funeral expenses, medical bills related to the death, lost wages from the deceased person’s job, and loss of companionship or consortium with the deceased person.

Conclusion
When someone is injured due to another’s negligence in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, they may be able to pursue a personal injury claim in order to recover compensation for their losses. These claims typically include economic damages such as medical bills and lost wages; non-economic damages such as pain and suffering; punitive damages in cases involving gross negligence; and wrongful death damages if an injury results in death.