Prove Non Economic Damages After a Car Accident
By Christopher Hoffmann
May. 28, 2018 10:33a
If you are injured in a car accident in Missouri, the person who is responsible for paying for the accident is the driver or party found to be negligent. Sometimes that means that one person is solely responsible. Other times, it might mean that multiple people bear some responsibility. Since Missouri is a comparative at-fault state, it is possible for more than one person to be held liable and responsible for a car accident.
If you are injured, you are likely entitled to be compensated for your injuries, regardless of whether you are at-fault or not. Although you pay your insurance premiums, and the insurance company should feel compelled to compensate you to the fullest, it is still a business. Like any other business, it's goal is to make money. An insurance company does that by limiting what it has to pay those who are injured.
How Can You Get the Most from Your Car Accident Settlement?
If you are injured in a car accident, you are generally entitled to both non economic and economic damages. The calculation of economic damages is usually pretty straightforward.
Economic damages are meant to compensate you for any economic loss you suffered. Non economic damages are more subjective, and, therefore, harder to collect. To get all that you are entitled to, it is important to be able to prove your non economic damages. To prove your non economic damages, you will want to make sure that you follow these steps.
1. Make Sure to Keep Documentation of Your Medical Care
You will want to keep a record of all medical care that you had to seek. It isn’t enough to show a bill. Keep a journal of what you went through along with the pain scale that you had on a daily basis. Giving full details about how you feel gives a better picture of your hardship than the bill the hospital will send you.
2. Go to See a Therapist
If you are having residual emotional problems related to the accident, then it could be emotional distress. To prove that you are suffering emotionally from the scars of the accident, it is a good idea to talk to a therapist. Not only will they be able to diagnose your emotional distress, but they will also be able to help you through the healing process and affirm your statements, leading to a higher settlement for your accident.
3. Take Pictures and Record Videos
If the road to recovery was long and arduous or you have scars that are permanent, you will want to document all of it. Videos and pictures say a whole lot more than words when you are trying to convey your suffering to someone else. Make sure to record your injuries and your healing time in every way possible.
4. Speak With a St. Louis Car Accident Attorney
To make sure that you get all that you are entitled to, you will want to speak with someone who truly understand what your claim is worth. A St. Louis car accident lawyer will help guide you through the process and fight to get you all that you deserve for your economic loss and your pain and suffering. Call (314) 361-4242 for a FREE case evaluation.