If you are hurt in a motor vehicle accident, you may be entitled to multiple forms of compensation. For instance, if you need medical attention, you might receive reimbursement. If you are unable to work because of injuries sustained in a wreck while traveling in Ohio, you could be compensated for lost wages or lost future earnings.
Most actual damages are typically accounted for
In a typical motor vehicle accident settlement, you’ll receive compensation for any actual damages that you incur. Actual damages include lost wages, medical bills and other costs you can verify. Other examples include the cost of refurbishing a car to make it easier to use or replacing items inside of your vehicle that were damaged in the crash.
Ongoing expenses may be covered as well
You may require additional surgeries to fix broken bones or an internal injury caused by the defendant’s negligence. There is also a chance that you will need to take medication to control seizures or to minimize chronic pain long after an accident occurs. Typically, you will be entitled to the funds needed to cover those costs.
Punitive damages may be included in an award
Punitive damages are added to a settlement or jury if the defendant acted in a grossly negligent manner. For instance, assume that defective brakes caused the accident or that a tire popped without warning. If the manufacturer of a defective product knew there was an issue, that might be considered gross negligence if nothing was done to rectify it. State or federal law may cap the amount you receive on top of actual damages incurred.
You can take legal action if you’re injured because of someone else’s negligence. State law says that you have two years from the date of an accident to file a lawsuit. However, you may still be able to settle the case outside of court after doing so.