Car accidents are expensive. Often, even minor collisions can result in thousands of dollars in damages to the vehicle and require costly medical treatment. A person who sustains severe injuries may be unable to earn a living or support themselves, especially if they need life-long medical treatment.
This is why Nebraska has created a system to compensate car accident victims. Under the law, those injured in wrecks due to others’ negligence may be able to recover Lincoln car accident damages to cover these losses. A thorough car accident lawyer can work with you to determine the compensation you deserve.
Understanding the Categories of Damages
After a car crash in Lincoln, a person who was injured may recover several different types of damages. The specific damages and their amounts will vary depending on the circumstances but generally include compensation for both economic and non-economic losses.
Economic Losses
Economic damages are defined by Nebraska law as the monetary losses a person suffers due to another’s negligence. This can include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of employment
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Costs of repairs or replacement
Essentially, any loss that is relatively easy to quantify or has a set cost can be considered an economic damage.
Non-economic Damages
Non-economic damages are subjective, non-monetary losses. These are generally much harder to quantify. Often, they include pain and suffering, emotional distress, inconvenience, loss of companionship, loss of consortium, and injury to reputation.
There is no formula for calculating these non-economic damages and determining the appropriate value is at the discretion of the jury. Therefore, the amount a person will receive for their non-economic damages depends largely on the specific circumstances.
Punitive Damages
Many states also award punitive damages sparingly to punish the at-fault person. However, they are not recognized in Nebraska and therefore would not be a part of any claim.
Who Pays Compensation to Car Accident Victims?
The person who caused the car crash is typically responsible for paying for property damages. Usually, his or her insurance company actually makes the payments.
Often, insurance will cover some of the damages depending on the policy the person has. Common coverages include damage to the vehicle and medical payments coverage to pay the bills up to the coverage limit. A detail-oriented attorney can further explain how insurance handles Lincoln car accident damages.
Damage Caps for Lincoln Claims
A damage cap is a statutory maximum on the amount a plaintiff can recover in any particular case. Many states use damage caps to limit the amount a person can recover, however, the only damage caps that may apply to an auto crash in Lincoln are the caps for claims made against the government.
If that happens, the compensation a person could recover may be capped at $1,000,000. A skilled attorney can analyze the facts of a claim to determine whether any damage caps may apply.
Berry Law’s Team Provides You With Multiple Attorney Perspectives
An Attorney Can Help Evaluate Lincoln Car Accident Damages
When someone is injured in a car accident due to another’s negligence, he or she needs and deserve compensation for his or her injuries. If you or a loved one were injured in a car collision, a lawyer can work with you to determine the Lincoln car accident damages that are appropriate in your case. To get started, call today.
