Car accidents can have a significant impact on your life, leading to both physical injuries and financial hardships. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation in North Dakota, you might wonder about the types of compensation you can seek.
In North Dakota, the law allows for various types of compensation following a car accident. This compensation aims to restore your financial position to what it would have been if the accident had not occurred. Two primary types of compensation you might seek are economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages
Economic damages refer to the tangible, out-of-pocket costs resulting from the accident.
- Medical expenses. These cover everything from the cost of emergency room visits for your injuries to ongoing treatment and therapy.
- Lost wages. If your injuries prevent you from working, either temporarily or permanently, you can claim compensation for the income you would have earned during that period.
- Property damage. You can seek compensation for the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle and any other personal belongings damaged in the accident.
Economic damages aim to cover all the financial losses you have incurred.
Non-economic damages
Non-economic damages are more subjective and harder to quantify.
- Pain and suffering. You can seek compensation for the physical discomfort and emotional distress the accident has caused you.
- Loss of enjoyment of life. If your injuries disrupt your lifestyle and prevent you from enjoying activities you once did, you can seek compensation.
- Loss of consortium. If the accident has affected your relationship with your spouse, you may seek compensation for loss of consortium. This covers the loss of companionship, affection and other benefits of a relationship.
Economic damages cover tangible financial losses, while non-economic damages compensate for the emotional and lifestyle effects of the accident.
As you navigate the post-accident process, keep these types of compensation in mind to help ensure you receive what you need to recover fully.