Types of Damages You Can Recover After a Car Accident and How to Calculate Them

A car accident can lead to more than just physical injuries. It can also cost you money and make you stressed emotionally. It’s surprising how many people don’t know that they can recover different kinds of damages. Knowing about these damages can help victims take the right steps after a crash.

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There are a lot of car accidents on Long Island’s busy highways, like the Long Island Expressway. Every year, thousands of accidents happen in the area because so many people drive there to work. This makes it important for residents to contact a car accident attorney in Long Island to know their rights.

In this piece, we’ll share with you the types of damages you can recover after a car accident and how to calculate them.

Economic Damages

You can show proof of these financial losses with bills, receipts, or pay stubs. They are the easiest damages to calculate because it is clear how much they cost.

Common economic damages include:

Medical bills (for example, hospital stays, therapy, and prescriptions)
Lost wages from not being able to work
Damage to property, like car repairs
Future medical care or lost future income
Funeral expenses (in fatal accidents)

Gather all related bills and records to calculate economic damages. Add them up to get the total amount. Make sure to include future costs if you need to keep getting care for your injuries.

Non-Economic Damages

Even though these damages don’t have a price tag, they still have a big impact on your life. They are based on the pain, stress, and changes to your daily life.

Non-economic damages include the following:

Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Loss of enjoyment of life
Scarring or disfigurement
Loss of companionship

Multiplier Method

The multiplier method is a common way to calculate non-economic damages. Add up your economic damages and multiply the result by a number, usually 1.5 to 5. The number is based on how severe your injuries are. A higher multiplier means that the injuries are more serious.

Per Diem Method

The per diem method is another way to calculate non-economic damages. This assigns the pain and suffering you go through a daily dollar value. Multiply that amount by the number of days you need to recover.

For instance, $200 a day for 120 days is $24,000.

This method works well for injuries that have a clear recovery period. If your injuries will last a long time, the multiplier method might work better for you.

Punitive Damages

Punitive fines are meant to punish, not to compensate. These damages are given when the other driver was very reckless.

Some examples are:

Driving while drunk
Street racing
Going too fast

Punitive damages are awarded by courts to discourage people from acting in this way. They aren’t used very often and are only used in very serious cases. Your lawyer can help you figure out if your case qualifies for this type of damage.

Wrongful Death Damages

If a family member dies in a car accident, they may be able to recover special damages. These are meant to cover both financial and emotional losses.

Wrongful death damages may include:

Costs of the funeral and burial
Loss of income and benefits
Loss of love, support, and guidance
Medical bills before death
Pain and suffering of the person who died

Each case is different, and courts consider many factors, such as the victim’s age, income, and role in the family.