It is one thing to break your arm in a car crash and entirely another to lose that arm or another limb. You may not hear much about crash-related amputations, yet they are a risk in nearly all motor vehicle accidents.
The loss of a limb is nothing short of catastrophic, as victims are forced to redesign their lives while dealing with the pain and shock of the event. If this has happened to you or someone you love, you must obtain sufficient compensation to avoid future medical and economic hardships.
Can you get pain and suffering damages in California?
You may understand that the involved insurers owe you a sum that will cover your economic losses after a car accident. For example, you may obtain restitution for crash-related medical expenses and lost income.
However, you may also be eligible for pain and suffering (non-economic) damages. Those who experience debilitating yet hard-to-quantify harm in a crash may seek pain and suffering damages based on factors like these:
- Disfigurement and amputation
- Physical impairment or disability
- Mental anguish or emotional distress
- Substantially shortened life expectancy
- Loss of life enjoyment, affection or companionship
You may also qualify for a non-economic award if your doctors believe you are likely to continue suffering pain or other injury complications for a long time.
Are pain and suffering damages awarded automatically?
Unfortunately, you should not expect insurance companies to hand over money voluntarily. To obtain these damages, it’s important to ensure that your claim accounts for all your harm and is supported by substantial medical evidence.
Knowledge of state injury compensation laws and experienced legal guidance can give you an edge in ensuring that you get what you’re entitled to after losing a limb in a car crash.