Did you know that each state has individual laws regarding the compensation or damages victims qualify for after motor vehicle accidents? Some of them are similar from state to state, but injured residents should make sure they understand the letter of the law in California.
For example, some states impose caps or limits on how much financial compensation accident victims can acquire. Fortunately, California does not impose any caps on damages in most situations (more details about the limits below).
What kinds of damages are available?
As in other states, motor vehicle accident victims usually qualify for economic damages. These cover the damages that affect you economically. Examples include:
- Accident-related medical expenses
- Lost income due to crash injuries
- Costs of renting a vehicle for travel
- Loss of your vehicle
Victims of California motor vehicle accidents may also qualify for non-economic damages, widely known as pain and suffering. Examples of these damages include:
- Post-accident emotional distress and mental anguish
- Literal pain and suffering due to crash injuries
- Loss of companionship if injuries interfere with personal relationships
In some cases, victims may even acquire compensation for humiliation and inconvenience caused by their vehicle accident injuries. Unfortunately, if you were not insured when the crash occurred, you cannot qualify for pain and suffering damages even if you were not at fault. You can still seek and get economic compensation, however.
You may believe these economic and non-economic damages will come to you automatically after a vehicle crash. However, that is not the case. You must fight for fair compensation while also protecting your rights. Learning more about state accident and injury compensation laws can help. So can the careful guidance of a professional advocate.