What Damages Can You Claim After A Buffalo Car Accident?

Car accidents are life-changing experiences for anyone involved. The experience can leave us with physical injuries, ongoing trauma, and some large bills to pay. This is bad enough when it’s your own fault, and you’re left figuring out how to deal with minor repairs or minor injuries. It’s even worse when your car gets written off, and you’re left unable to work because of someone else’s negligence. Car accident lawyers in Buffalo are ready to take on all kinds of car accident cases and help people get the justice they deserve. Whatever the severity of the situation and the impact on your life, you may be entitled to compensation for your suffering. Compensation can be economic, non-economic, or a combination of both. Here are some examples of what that means and what to do next.

Examples of Economic Damage After A Car Accident

One way that victims of car accidents can claim damages is economic damages. This form of compensation is the easiest to prove as long as clients have all the right documentation. That’s why car accident lawyers always recommend creating a detailed file of records from the day of the accident and onward. This means that no invoice will get misplaced, and the court can see a complete file with every single financial expense and hardship. If the case is successful, claimants can earn a percentage of those expenses in damages.

There are many forms of economic damage, and it’s better to keep hold of every bill and receipt, just in case. Medical costs are a common issue here because insurance will only cover so much. Expenses will depend on the severity of the accident. Many car accident victims will pay out for hospital stays, therapy treatments for injuries, and prescriptions to manage the pain. Those who spend a long time in hospital or are left disabled by their injuries could also claim a loss of earnings.

On top of these, vehicle costs can also mount up. Car insurance claims can help, but it could still be costly to handle extreme damage. Then there’s the potential cost of a new car if the old one was written off. The best car accident lawyers in Buffalo, NY can help you go over every possible expense just in case there is something you haven’t considered.

Examples of Non-Economic Damage After A Car Accident

Then, there are the claims of non-economic damage. As the name suggests, these are damages that aren’t direct financial losses. Many of these factors could play a part in the financial issues mentioned before. They may require additional medical support, which adds to those bills or could contribute to the loss of earnings. Car accident lawyers will refer to these claims as pain and suffering. It sounds vague, but that’s because it covers a surprising range of factors. Lawyers who can prove clients are suffering from one or many of them can add these additional damages to the case.

One side of this is the literal physical pain caused by the accident and its effect on a victim. Some injuries can take a long time to heal and end up making life difficult for victims. Anything that limits mobility or the ability to carry out normal tasks can lead to a claim for non-economic damages. The amount of compensation earned can depend on the severity of the injury and its long-term impact.

The same is true for any mental suffering experienced due to a car accident. Mental suffering typically relates to emotional responses to the incident and after effects, such as a state of depression following life-changing injuries or a loss of earnings. There may also be anxiety and fear stopping victims from getting into a vehicle again. Furthermore, this pain and suffering can have a knock-on effect on relationships, which lets mental health conditions spiral further. Parents can struggle with the inability to provide for their kids after losing their income and mode of transport. Spouses can grow apart due to sudden changes in physical ability and mental health.

The only problem with this side of compensation for car accidents in Buffalo is that it’s a lot harder to prove than direct financial damages. There is a level of subjectivity to pain and suffering, and it often requires the court to take claimants at their word. For example, one tool used as evidence is a pain journal written by the victim. Testimony from friends and family can help give greater context to the pain and suffering caused and support those claims about strained relationships. As with the financial costs, it helps to document everything from day one. Photograph the injuries, journal the experience, and provide as much proof as possible. It’s better to have too much than not enough.

Getting Your Fair Share Of Compensation

Gaining compensation for Buffalo car accidents isn’t always easy, but the best car accident lawyers will do their best to get you as much as possible. Their strong understanding of the law means they can build a case that helps highlight the fault of the other driver. They will also be familiar with New York’s comparative negligence law. This means that even if it turns out that you have partial blame for the accident, you can still claim based on the percentage of blame. The difference in New York, compared to many other states, is that this still applies when blame exceeds 50%.

Remember that no matter the portion of the blame, the severity of the accident, or the injuries received, it is possible to make a claim in New York. Car accident victims don’t have to suffer financial hardship if they can claim damages from the other party. The only way to do this is to hire the best Buffalo car accident lawyer. They will go over every detail of your case, help you compile as much supporting evidence as possible, and fight for your right to compensation. So, get in touch with a firm today and get one step closer to the result you deserve.