How Damages Are Assessed In Connecticut Auto Accident Cases

If you have been injured in a Connecticut auto accident, you may be wondering how much monetary compensation you are entitled to. Calculating the damages in an injury claim involves many factors that are particular to each case, so it is best for you to sit down with your attorney to specifically evaluate how much your case might be worth.

Determining Specific Damages In Your Case

To start assessing the value of your case, you need to determine what specific damages you can claim.

There are two types of damages in a personal injury case: economic and non-economic. Economic damages are those that correspond to actual financial losses, such as medical costs, lost income, and rehabilitation expenses. Non-economic damages do not have an exact financial value and are more subjective. Examples are pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of life’s enjoyment.

Calculating Economic Damages

Because economic damages are quantifiable, calculating them can be as simple as adding up the dollar amount of the losses. The important thing is for you to be diligent in keeping all records of financial losses related to your accident: hospital bills, medication receipts, missed days at work, etc.

Calculating Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are a little more complex to assess. You may have heard that many insurance companies apply a damages formula to determine their settlement offer, and in many cases, insurance adjusters do use this formula at the start of the negotiations process. These estimates are simply used to begin the claims negotiation process.

Jury Determined Compensation

Your Connecticut auto accident case may go to jury trial. Monetary awards will be decided by the jury.

Consult With A Lawyer

With all of this to consider, an experienced attorney, like those at McEnery Price Messey & Sullivan, can guide you and protect your interests throughout your case.