5 Types of Damages You Can Claim After a Car Accident

26 October 2018

When you suffer through the ordeal of a car accident, you’re entitled to payouts for certain types of damages. Depending on whose fault the accident was, the damages you can claim might be limited. Consulting a good attorney will help you to understand what you can or can’t claim.

The US legal system is one of the best in the world for victims of accidents, as it allows you to claim damages through traditional means and also civil cases if required. That means if you suffer because of another person, you have a very high chance of receiving a payout. Today we’re looking at 5 different types of damages you could claim after a car crash.

Contents

1 1. Medical Expenses:
2 2. Pain & Suffering:
3 3. Loss of Income:
4 4. Property Loss/Damage:
5 5. Loss of Companionship:

1. Medical Expenses:

Medical expenses are the first thing to come to mind and the big area which most people are already aware of. After an accident, any medical care and treatment for you should be covered by the payout. One piece of advice – get the treatment before accepting a payout or ask the other side to pay for the treatment. Settling on a fixed figure before treatment leaves you vulnerable because you may require more treatment than expected, so your expenses could end up being higher than the settlement.

This is why it is best to contact a car accident lawyer in New York that can help you manage your medical bills. They can work with the hospital authorities and the insurance company to ensure that your recovery process is as smooth as possible. If you are not in a position to walk or require complete bed rest, you can imagine how difficult it would be to keep running around and get all the paperwork in order. Taking help from an expert car accident lawyer can be the best option to aid in faster recovery.

2. Pain & Suffering:

Pain & suffering is related to the injuries you receive as well as any mental or emotional pain/suffering. Medical expenses cover actual treatment but this area covers compensation for the time you’ve suffered or spent in pain. For example, experiencing the pain of broken bones for a couple of hours before receiving pain relief would classify as pain & suffering.

3. Loss of Income:

If you need time off work, for recovery, or for court obligations, you’re entitled to lost wages for this time. Any other lost income, including self-employed income, can also be compensated. In the case of long-term injury, this area of damages can go as far as factoring in your lifetime earnings – especially if your family relies on it. There are also times when the unemployed can claim lost income on the basis of it harming your ability to work in the future.

4. Property Loss/Damage:

Any valuables that are damaged or lost should also be compensated. This obviously includes your car but it can extend to other valuables as well, such as contents of the vehicle, items you had on your person, and even jewelry & clothing if it is lost or damaged during the accident.

5. Loss of Companionship:

This one can vary state to state, but generally, you can claim for loss of affection/companionship. Usually, you need to be married for this to apply, though it could be possible for unmarried couples who can prove an ongoing long-term relationship in some states. Sometimes known as loss of consortium, this type of damage covers the loss of an intimate relationship. It can also apply to children if the accident has left a parent unable to show the same nurturing and affection they previously would have.

Read Also:

Ariana Smith

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

View all posts

7 Approaches to Adopt to find the Best Solution after a Cycling Accident

It’s scary when a bike crashes into a car or a car into a bike. Fortunately, there’s something you can do about it. If you’re riding a bike, however, it’s important that you know how to deal with the situation after the crash. What you do after the incident may have a huge effect on your recovery from damages and injuries to your bike and to yourself. Moreover, it may also impact the result of any lawsuits. Below are the things you need to do to access the best resolution after a cycling accident. 7 Approaches to Adopt to find the Best Solution after a Cycling Accident: 1. Wait for the authorities to arrive: Right after the accident, you should wait for the police to arrive first so they can work on writing a police report, even if you think you are unharmed. Not a lot of people actually realize they’ve been injured until a few hours after the accident. Some people attain minor injuries, but these could develop into a much serious problem later on. And if you choose to let the whole thing go and leave the accident scene, you will lose the chance of identifying the at-fault driver or the person involved in the accident. While waiting for the police to arrive, never attempt to negotiate with the driver. Most people would apologize and accept blame, but you’ll never know what they’re capable of when suddenly faced with an impending lawsuit. Some drivers would later deny their negligence and even deny they were involved at all. Always wait for the police to come so everything gets documented in their police report. Also, the police can ticket the driver, which is very useful in the future when you’re starting to settle the case with your insurance company. 2. Relay your version of what happened into the accident report: Some police officers end up talking to the motorist to get a statement of what happened and not bother talking to the cyclist. Given this tendency, you must do everything you can so you can get your version out and recorded into the accident report. Your injuries may be very little or minor, but make sure they are recorded. For all you know, those minor injuries may later develop into something more serious. Should it happen that the officer in charge of the accident scene refuses to include your statement in the police report, have the report amended later. 3. Get driver and witness details: Remember to get the name of the driver who is at fault, driver’s license number, phone number, address, insurance details, and vehicle license number. You should also get the names and contact information of people who have seen the accident. Don’t rely on the police alone to get this information for you because they may fail to do so. If in case you have acquired serious injuries and cannot get the necessary details, ask a witness or a bystander to help you out. 4. Document the accident: If it’s possible, remember even the tiniest details of the accident. Take note of what happened, how the whole thing transpired, and where the location of the accident is. Additionally, document the weather, traffic, and road conditions. It would help you greatly if you can write all of these down. 5. Document your injuries: If you’re hurt, request for medical attention immediately. Even if the injuries are minor, you should always get help from first aid responders as this can help prove that you were in fact injured. This will be included in your medical records including the extent of your injuries. Also, see to it that the areas injured are photographed as soon as the accident took place. After the accident, you can also record in a journal what and how you’re feeling as well. 6. Preserve evidence: Never touch the state of your bike and other things nearby and on the accident area itself. Do not try and fix anything before the police arrive. Do not wash your clothes, and do not let anyone touch your helmet or bike before documentation takes place. Take photos of yourself and damaged equipment and send them to nobody else but your attorney. 7. Turn to a professional for advice: Expect complex legal issues after the accident. For this reason, you will need a bike accident attorney who understands this type of accidents. An attorney can: Represent you in a lawsuit Negotiate with the respective insurance companies, and Advice you on the next steps to undertake. Before communicating with anybody else, especially your insurance company, talk to your attorney first. Remember that whatever you said right after the accident can be used against you later on. Sometimes, all it takes is a letter from a law firm to the insurance company in order to resolve issues. Your attorney can also help you settle your injury case without having to go to trial. What Not to Do After a Cycling Accident: In the event of a crash, the person who has caused the crash is liable to pay you for damage through his insurance provider. This compensation would not just be restricted to medical fees, but also for destruction to property. However, this won’t be possible if you fail to document the damages. You can’t get a claim simply because there is no evidence. To get the best possible evidence, do nothing until everything is recorded and documented. Seeking help from a qualified and certified attorney can help you take these steps. If it is not possible for you to wait until all your equipment is fixed, make sure to take a record of all the damage that has been done thoroughly before starting to tinker with it. Your photos should be taken from multiple angles in order to prove before a court of law or an attorney, or the insurance agencies about the damages if it’s necessary. Talk to an Expert Today: You can always rely on Murphy's Law Cycling Accidents Brisbane to help you navigate the challenging legal issues that happen after the accident. An initial round of discussion with them is confidential and free. Professionals who deal with such cases or have prior experience of them can help you with what you should do, and what you should avoid doing that will compromise your situation. The team’s accident lawyers will look after the administrative process and will help you gather the necessary evidence. Call now for a free case assessment. Read Also: Things About A Personal Injury Lawyer Along For The Ride: Passenger Rights In Vehicle Accidents

What Happens When You Violate the Rules of Vaping Etiquette?

Regarding vape etiquette as an afterthought can have consequences that range from mildly embarrassing to socially destructive. Regardless of how much you enjoy vaping, it’s essential to understand that there are a variety of circumstances and settings in which pulling out your vape pen is considered unacceptable. And what are the rules of vaping etiquette? What Will Happen If You Are Violating Vaping Etiquette? Failure to understand this simple fact stands to draw the ire of those around you and make your life more difficult. Better know the rules of vaping etiquette and then avoid making faults. So, if you’re not currently keen on practicing proper vape etiquette, consider the following consequences. 1. You Get Banned from Your Favorite Businesses Area Unsurprisingly, vaping is prohibited in most public spaces. So, if you feel the urge to vape while shopping in your favorite store or dining at your favorite restaurant, you will have to wait until you’re in a vape-friendly area. Pulling out your vape pen in these areas is liable to get you reprimanded and potentially banned from your favorite businesses. Furthermore, depending on how miffed management is at your actions, you may even find yourself in legal trouble. Not only can getting called out for vaping in public prove humiliating to you, but it can also be quite embarrassing for any friends or family members who happen to be with you when it happens. So, if you won’t respect the rules of vaping etiquette to save yourself from public embarrassment, give some thought to the other people your actions stand to impact. 2. You’re No Longer Welcome in Other People’s Homes Vaping in other people’s homes can be a risky venture. This isn’t to say that you can never do it, but you’d be wise to request permission before proceeding to pull out your vape equipment in someone else’s residence. Sub-ohm vaping, in particular, can produce very large vapor clouds that are impossible to ignore. Even if the person in question generally has no issues with vaping, it’s reasonable to assume that they wouldn’t want you doing it in their home. Vaping in someone else’s personal space without asking permission can make things extremely awkward between the two of you. Regardless of how well you know this individual, assuming that you can vape in their home is both highly presumptuous and a violation of their space. 3. Your Uncomfortable Behaviours Are Becoming Your Enemy Odds are, if someone came into your home and engaged in uncomfortable behaviors, you’d think twice before inviting them back, so make sure to extend your friends and family members the same courtesy. Furthermore, being unofficially banned from people’s homes means that you should also expect to see invites to barbecues, birthday parties, and other fun shindigs dwindle. So, in the interest of staying on your social circle’s good side, take a moment to ask for permission before proceeding to vape in other people’s homes. 4. People Won’t Want To Dine with You When you’re alone, vaping may very well be part of your usual mealtime routine. However, when you’re dining with others, there are always some rules of vaping etiquette – whether it’s at your home, someone else’s residence, or a restaurant – you should put the kibosh on vaping. For one thing, not even fellow vape enthusiasts are going to want to deal with your vapor clouds when they’re trying to enjoy a meal – to say nothing of any non-vapers at the table. Additionally, even if you opt to take your vaping outside, no one enjoys dining out with someone who repeatedly leaves the table to go vape. If this describes your behavior when dining with others, don’t be surprised if you start seeing a notable decrease in meal invites. So, the next time you find yourself dining with other people, abstain from vaping at the table at all costs. 5. Vaping During Family Meals Is A Serious Offence For Others If you absolutely must vape during the meal, you’ll need to take it outside. For best results, however, it’s recommended that you simply avoid vaping altogether until the meal is officially over. It should come as no surprise that vaping enthusiasts are expected to abide by certain rules of vaping etiquette. As is the case with other pastimes that have the potential to impact the people around us, vaping is prohibited at certain times, in certain places, and in the presence of certain people. Conclusion: Furthermore, rules of vaping etiquette as an afterthought can result in a plethora of undesirable outcomes. Anyone curious about what happens when vape etiquette is violated should reflect on the consequences discussed above. Read Also: Vaping is Fighting the Deadly Consumption of Nicotine Is Vaping Safer Than Smoking? Can Vaping Really Help You Kick Your Smoking Habit?

The Basics of Bail Bonds System

If you’ve never used bail bondsman services before, you probably don’t know how it all works. You’ve most likely heard it on the news somewhere ‘the defendant was released from prison on an insert-amount dollar bail until trial next month’, or you’ve seen it on TV or in a movie. The point is, it always goes along the same lines. But how do bail bonds work? We reached out to bail bonding professionals at BailCo LLC for a crash course in bail bonds. Why is there a need for bails? Simply put, when someone’s arrested, they’re taken to a police station for booking, and the process includes having mug shots taken, fingerprinting, and giving a statement. Then that person is held in prison until they can have their day in court. Alternatively, a person can post bail and leave prison until their trial. However, bails are usually very steep, and the defendants usually cannot pay them themselves, or even with the help of friends. This is where bail bonding agencies come into play, to ensure that people don’t needlessly sit in jail. Ok, so what is the bail itself? Basically, bail is a contract, usually between the bail bonding agency and the court, on the behalf of the defendant. The defendant will be released from prison to await trial, provided that they give some insurance to the agency, in form of money, property, or bonds. The amount of money needed to post bail is set by the court. The court’s end of the agreement is to release the defendant, while the bail bonding agency’s end is to make sure that the defendant shows up for their court date. Since these bonds are usually not cheap, some courts accept payments of full bonds, but they also agree to only be paid 10% of the bond, as a down payment, in order to release the defendant. Should the defendant skip, the agency is accountable to pay the rest to the court? Since the agencies also have a lot of money on the line in this situation, they need a way of protecting themselves in case the defendant skips their day in court. The agencies can hire bounty hunters to track down the fugitive defendant. The USA is one of the last countries to still allow bounty hunting. How does the Bail Bonds system work? The bail bondsman puts up the bail set by the court, and the defendant is released. It is important to note that a fee of usually 10% must be paid to the bail bondsman in order to cover the expenses of the agency. If everything goes well, and the defendant shows up for the court date, the full amount of the bail is returned. Except for the money given to the agency as a fee. This is kept by the bail bonding agency, for services rendered. Can anyone just post bail? Well, no. Bails are usually not given to people who have been accused of committing severe crimes, especially those crimes of a violent nature. The courts prefer having those individuals in prison, to avoid any further criminal behavior. But most other people are offered this option. And of those, the overwhelming majority of them go for it. It is a difficult time in the defendant’s life, and staying in prison during all that time could be even more so. Feeling the support of one’s family really does mean a lot, and bail is here to provide it. Read Also: 6 Reasons to Contact a Lawyer before an Arrest in Knoxville Why Are Court Reporters Necessary? What You Can Expect from a Criminal Defense Lawyer