If you have been hit and injured by another driver, you might be ready to take action and be paid what you deserve. You might have an idea of what is covered, such as your medical expenses and your wrecked vehicle, but you might not consider how the accident has affected you in other ways. Your mental health status is not just important to you but it is also a component of your personal injury claim. For an overview of what is covered when it comes to mental health issues and how to make sure you are paid for them, read on.
Non-economic Damages and Economic Damages
Most car accident victims will appear at their lawyer's office with two categories of damages. Economic damages are connected to anything with a clear dollar value. Medical care costs, for example, have a definite cost so they are classified as economic damages. With economic damages, you are entitled to be paid exactly that amount – no more and no less. The other form of damage is non-economic and it is not only important but the amount you are owed can be even higher than your medical costs and vehicle repairs put together.
Non-economic Damages Are Mental Health Related
Most people have heard the personal injury term "pain and suffering" but perhaps did not fully understand what it means. What it means is that you can be paid for the mental trauma that impacted you because of the accident and the resulting injuries. Pain and suffering is the most common form of damage but you can also be paid for psychological trauma and loss of consortium. Those are only available if you take legal action against the other driver. Don't expect any form of non-economic damages to be paid by accepting what the insurer is offering you.
Gathering Proof of Non-economic Damages
Like all aspects of a personal injury case, it is the responsibility of the victim to show proof of the damage. Just as you must provide your lawyer with access to your medical records, you must also gather and present proof of your non-economic damages like pain and suffering. Take a look at the following simple but effective ways to show proof of your pain and suffering:
- Seek medical treatment. In some cases, the dollar amount of your medical treatment is used to determine how much you are paid for your pain and suffering.
- Keep up with the psychological effects of your injury and the accident using a pain journal. Record your thoughts and issues on a daily basis.
To learn more about non-economic damages like pain and suffering, speak to a personal injury lawyer and click here for info.
