Injuries from a pedestrian accident caused by a negligent driver are disruptive to every part of daily life. While money alone cannot erase every negative impact that a crash of this nature may have, seeking fair civil compensation for the harm unfairly done to you can still be important to maximizing your quality of life in both the short and the long term.
If you are not familiar with what kinds of things qualify as compensable damages, you may have a lot more trouble than you expect getting reimbursed for your damages. Here is a brief summary of the kinds of damages in Philadelphia pedestrian accidents that a seasoned attorney may be able to help you recover for, depending on how you were hurt and how long your injury will continue to affect your life.
Even if the injuries caused by a pedestrian collision in Philadelphia will heal completely with time and proper medical treatment, the costs associated with that medical treatment will still represent a significant portion of the damages sought in an ensuing lawsuit or settlement demand. It is possible—and often vital—to recover in advance for expected future medical expenses, in addition to the costs of treatment already received by the time the legal process formally begins.
A serious injury can interfere with someone’s ability to work and earn a living for weeks or months at a time, and loss of income while recovering from an injury caused by someone else’s negligence is considered a compensable loss. If an injury from a pedestrian crash results in a permanent loss of bodily function, any related loss of working and earning ability can be factored into a civil claim over that injury as well.
Typically, expenses stemming from property damage do not play as significant a role in Philadelphia pedestrian accident claims compared to other types of cases centered around auto accidents. It is still possible to incorporate personal property damage and loss into a lawsuit over a pedestrian collision in many situations—for example, by seeking reimbursement for the costs of replacing or repairing a damaged cell phone.
Finally, the psychological and emotional toll that a traffic collision in Philadelphia can have on a pedestrian involved in the incident can be included in an ensuing lawsuit as non-economic damages. In addition to physical pain and discomfort from injuries, compensable non-economic damages can include things like emotional distress, lost enjoyment of life, and other intangible effects of an injury resulting in permanent disability or disfigurement.
The main purpose of filing a personal injury claim after getting hurt in a pedestrian crash is to seek compensation for specific losses that you will experience as a direct result of the incident. However, the damages you may need to seek recovery for may be entirely different from the ones someone else would need to factor into a broadly similar case.
Sorting out what you should be seeking reimbursement for and ensuring you get paid fairly for all your unique damages is exactly the kind of thing a capable pedestrian accident lawyer could provide invaluable assistance with. Call today to learn more about damages in Philadelphia pedestrian accidents.
