After suffering a personal injury in Iowa, victims can seek various damages for their losses. In general, damages fall into two categories: economic and non-economic. Your economic damages are the compensation you seek for your monetary losses, while your non-economic damages are the compensation you seek for your personal, intangible losses.
Economic Damages
Your personal injury attorney will calculate your economic damages by reviewing your bills, invoices, and out-of-pocket expenses related to your injury. Economic damages include:
- Compensation for your medical expenses, including hospital stays, surgeries, medical treatments, prescription medications, medical devices, and physical therapy
- Compensation for the income you lost during your recovery period
- Compensation for your loss of future earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work long-term
- Compensation for household services your injuries prevent you from performing, such as cleaning, yard work, or childcare
- Compensation for home or vehicle modifications to accommodate your injuries, such as ramps or lifts
- Compensation for repairing or replacing your damaged property, such as your vehicle after a car crash
Non-Economic Damages
Calculating your non-economic damages can be more challenging, as they cover losses without set prices. Your attorney will assess the value of your non-economic losses by considering your injury’s severity and impact on your life. Non-economic damages can include:
- Compensation for the physical pain and emotional suffering you experience due to your injuries
- Compensation for the emotional distress you experience due to the incident that caused your injuries, such as anxiety or PTSD
- Compensation for your injury’s impact on your ability to participate in activities you once enjoyed
- Compensation for permanent scarring or disfigurement caused by your injuries
- Compensation for your spouse if your injuries impact your marital relationship
Contact an Iowa Personal Injury Attorney
If you suffered an injury caused by someone else’s negligence in Iowa, contact Loney & Schueller, LLC, for a free consultation. Our West Des Moines attorneys will review your case and provide an initial estimate of the compensation you may be owed.
