When people think of damage done in a car crash, they often think first of the damage to a vehicle. They think of broken bumpers, crushed frames and flattened front ends. However, your car is not the only thing that is damaged in a collision. In fact, the property damage may be the least of your concerns.
In Pennsylvania, there are two types of damages: general and special. Below we explain more about these categories and examples of damages that fall into each one.
General damages
Damage that is intangible is considered noneconomic, or general. These are damages for which there may be no price tag because they refer to emotions or experiences and are non-monetary losses. Some examples of general damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Future pain
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Special damages
Special damages include calculable damages. These are what people traditionally think of when they think of accident damages because they are tangible and more easily defined. Special damages include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages due to an inability to work
- Rehabilitation costs
- Car repair expenses
- Future medical care
Legal action and getting what you deserve
Too many people end up accepting a settlement offered by an insurance company because it seems fair on the surface. However, generally speaking, these offers only address a portion of the special damages you have incurred as a result of a crash.
In order to pursue compensation for all the different types of damages suffered in an accident, it can be necessary to file a legal claim. These claims can seem intimidating or complicated, but with a legal representative to guide you through the system, you can be confident that you are pursuing the maximum amount of compensation available. You should not be expected to pay for someone else’s unsafe actions, and filing a successful legal claim seeking all types of damages can ensure you won’t have to.
