When you are involved in an accident in Las Vegas, you may be able to receive compensation for your injuries and property damage. Damages are the remedy that courts award to injured parties in a civil case.
There are two types of damages that you may be able to recover in a personal injury case: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages are designed to help an injured party or victim recover any financial costs and expenses that they incurred as a result of their accident.
Non-economic damages are the compensation that the jury awards for an injured person’s pain and suffering after the accident.
This resource on economic damages covers everything you need to know about economic damages, including how they are measured and what you can recover.
Defining Economic Damages in Las Vegas
If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident or another injury-causing event, you may be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit against the party responsible for your injuries. Nevada also has a special statute to account for damages incurred due to professional negligence. This occurs when your doctor or another medical professional injures you through malpractice.
The rationale behind economic damages is that it would be unfair for the victim to lose money on things such as medical costs, damage to property, and legal expenses if they are not at fault for their injuries.
Here are some common types of economic damages available to victims:
Medical Expenses
Any medical expenses that you incur after your injury are recoverable, including future medical care you’ll need to treat your injuries. Medical expenses include procedures and tests such as MRI scans, blood tests, X-rays, emergency room care, and surgeries.
You should keep copies of any bills that you receive to help your attorney prove your medical expenses in court.
Rehabilitation Costs
If after your initial medical treatment, you need ongoing rehabilitative help, you can recover those damages too. This can be anything you spend on physical and occupational therapy to get you back to the position you were in before your accident.
Lost Income
If your injury has forced you to take time off work and lose income, you can recover those damages.
Loss of Earning Capacity
Sometimes accidents and injuries are so serious that victims either cannot work or cannot continue their current careers. In such cases, a person can recover your compensation for the reduction in their earning potential due to their injuries.
Property Damage
This type of economic damage allows accident victims to recover the cost of repairing their vehicle or other property that was damaged in the accident.
How Do I Prove Economic Damages?
Courts will look at a variety of factors when determining the amount of damages that a victim can recover.
First, the economic damages must be proven. A victim and their attorney may not estimate the amount of money spent as a result of an accident. Generally, economic damages can be proven by written records.
These documents should contain the amount that the victim spent and where. That is why you should collect and give your attorney as many relevant documents as possible.
Here are some common documents that can help you prove economic damages:
- Medical bills
- Receipts from prescriptions
- Estimates for vehicle and other repairs
- Receipts from hotels and other travel expenses
- Payroll records
- Canceled checks
Any document that demonstrates the money you have spent in connection with your injuries is helpful to your attorney. Your Las Vegas personal injury attorney will be able to sort through the documents and determine which will be most useful to prove your economic damages.
Usually, the jury will look through the documents and determine which expenses and economic losses were reasonable and necessary in light of the accident. Then, they will add up those losses to determine your economic damages award.
Get Help From an Experienced Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyer
You deserve full compensation for your damages after an accident. A Las Vegas personal injury lawyer can help you seek the money you need for your economic and non-economic damages. Contact De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers at (702) 222-9999 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.