If you get involved in a car accident, one of your first thoughts may be that you need to seek financial compensation. Perhaps the other driver clearly caused the accident by running a red light or rear-ending your vehicle. The situation is not your fault, and the other driver is liable, so they should cover your costs.
But even when all of this seems very clear, you may still not be entirely sure what type of compensation you can seek. Below are three examples to keep in mind as you get the process started.
Medical bills
To begin with, you may need compensation for your medical expenses. These could include the emergency bills from the day of the crash and the costs of your hospital stay. They could also include any medication that you need to take or long-term costs, such as rehabilitative care.
Changes to your income
If the accident has changed your income in any way, you may also deserve compensation. For instance, you may have lost wages for the time that you spent in the hospital – even if you just missed one day, you deserve that income. If you have a serious injury, you may also need to consider a reduced earning capacity in the future.
Non-economic damages
Finally, consider if there are any ways that the accident fundamentally changed your life. Maybe you’re no longer able to enjoy your hobbies. Maybe you’ve lost the close relationship you had with a spouse. Maybe you’ve just endured a lot of pain and suffering due to the other driver’s actions.
These three areas can help you start seeking compensation after a crash. Take the time to carefully look into all of the necessary legal steps.