Being injured in a car accident is no joking matter. Your injuries may be severe and may have a long-lasting impact on the quality of your life. When you are involved in a car accident, what might have been a normal day in which you go to work or to run your errands, turns into a nightmare. 

All of a sudden you are dealing with pain, medical appointments and treatments, and damage to your car and other personal property. As you absorb the new reality of your life, you may be pondering whether you are entitled to receive compensation for the car accident. If so, you should reach out to a Nashville auto accident attorney to understand the value of your case and how to proceed to get it.

One of the main obstacles you may find when filing a claim for a car accident is the fact that you waited too long and you are now ineligible to receive compensation. Talk to your attorney about the timeframe marked by the statute of limitations in your state. Although you may find out that you have two years to file after the accident and this may sound like a long time, your lawyer will need time to investigate your accident, gather all available evidence, and construct a strong case for your defense. Hire legal representation as soon as you can to avoid missing any important deadlines.

In general, you are entitled to receive compensation for your economic and non-economic losses. Here is what each one entails:

Economic damages are those for which you receive a bill or a pay stub. This covers your medical expenses, including all doctor’s visits, treatments, therapies, surgeries, hospital stays, and more. Keep a detailed file to give to your attorney. Also, if you are unable to return to work while caring for your health, you should talk to your lawyer about the income you are losing, which may include raises, bonuses, promotions, and any income you will not earn in the future if you need lengthy medical treatments.

These damages are those that are much harder to quantify and include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment of life, PTSD, and others. Your attorney can help put a fair value on these items which will be added to the amount of your economic damages.

If your accident was particularly horrid and you sustained extensive and severe injuries, the judge may award you punitive damages. This is not common but may be awarded when the judge considers that the negligence the other party showed towards you merits it. Punitive damages are then awarded to make an example of how not to act and to serve as a deterrent to other drivers in the future.

Your lawyer will negotiate on your behalf with the other party or their insurance, always looking to get you the maximum compensation for your claim.