Hi, I'm attorney Conor McAteer with DM Injury Law. Let me walk you through all the types of damages you may be entitled to in a Missouri personal injury case. Personal injury damages fall into three main categories: economic, non-economic, and, in rare cases, punitive. The first category is economic damages. Economic damages are the financial losses. You may calculate the most common or medical expenses. This includes everything from the ambulance ride to emergency surgery, hospital stays, specialist visits, physical therapy, prescriptions, medication, medical equipment, and future medical treatment your doctor projects you'll need. Next is lost wages. This is the income you couldn't earn while you were recovering. After that is lost earning capacity if your injury permanently affects what you can do for work going forward; that future income loss is compensable. You can also get compensation for any out-of-pocket expenses the accident caused you. This can include transportation to appointments, home care, modifications to your home or vehicle because of your injury. The second category is non-economic damages. Non-economic damages compensate for harms that don't come with a bill. This can include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and the loss of enjoyment of life. If the accident has negatively affected your outlook on life, you may be able to receive compensation. You can also receive money for the loss of consortium.
This is the effect of your injury on your relationship with your spouse. The third and last category is punitive damages. These damages are rare. They apply when a defendant's conduct was not just negligent, but intentional or recklessly indifferent to the rights of others. A common example of this is drunk driving. We at DM Injury Law will value the full extent of your losses and fight for the maximum compensation possible in your case. Call us today at (816) 888-7500 for a free consultation of your case.