Compensation for My Personal Injury

    ORLANDO, FL, December 31, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- If a personal injury attorney determines that you do, indeed, have a valid personal injury case, then you will be entitled to damages. Damages are basically the expenses or losses you have incurred due to the negligence of the other person and may included both economic and non-economic factors. An economic expense or damage would be the cost of doctor visits, while a non-economic damage would be pain and suffering as that cannot be actually measured or assigned a cost like a doctor's visit can. The damages to which you will be entitled all depend on the injuries you suffered and the circumstances of your injuries (i.e. if the defendant shows malice or reckless disregard for your safety).

Personal Injury Damages

The following is a comprehensive list of the damages available in personal injury claims. Please keep in mind that you will not necessarily be entitled to all of the damages listed below, but more likely, you will receive some combination of the damages:

- Present and future medical expenses
- Present and future lost wages
- Household services (the cost of hiring someone to maintain the plaintiff's house during recovery)
- Mental anguish
- Loss of consortium (loss of the benefits of a relationship because of the accident or injury)
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement
- Funeral expenses in the event of wrongful death

Settling a Personal Injury Case

Personal injury cases are settled either in a formal lawsuit or, more commonly, through an informal settlement (a negotiation between the plaintiff and defendant). When the verdict or negotiation is reached, the compensation will be awarded. Typically, minor to moderate injury cases are compensated with a lump sum payment, while more severe injury cases are often settled with a structured settlement. There are some benefits to structured settlements such as:

- Structured settlements are often tax-free income because they are usually in the form of annuities or U.S. Treasure Securities, which are not taxed at the state or federal level.
- Structured settlement payments are made over time, so the injured receives an income for several years to a lifetime.
- Often the injured can schedule the payments to best suit his or her needs.

If you feel you may have a personal injury case and live in the Orlando, Florida area, please visit the website of The Law Offices of Michael V. Barszcz, M.D., J.D. today to schedule a confidential consultation or to learn more about personal injury law at www.themdjd.com.

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