How Do You Prove Non-Economic Damages After a Car Accident?
If you were recently hurt in a car accident, you’re probably concerned about your financial security. Depending on the severity of your injuries, after all, you may have to contend with weeks—or months—of lost wages, not to mention mounting medical bills.
Unfortunately, such damages won’t be the only losses you incur. Car accident injuries can also cause a host of non-economic damages, including emotional distress, loss of enjoyment in life, and pain and suffering.
While you may seek funds for such losses, you’ll have to prove that you did, in fact, incur them in order to recover compensation. And since they may not be accompanied by bills or receipts like your economic damages, doing so could pose a challenge.
Thankfully, there are a number of widely accepted ways for personal injury claimants to demonstrate the extent of their non-monetary losses. Let’s take a look at the kinds of evidence that will likely contribute to the strength of your case when it comes to proving non-economic damages:
1. Journal Entries
Car accident attorneys encourage all their clients to start a personal injury journal as soon as possible. In this journal, you should write about how your condition is keeping you from living your life to the fullest.
For example, do you need help with simple tasks, like bathing, grooming, or meal preparation? And what about hobbies and passions? Are you unable to participate in activities you once loved? Detailed entries that address these and other questions will help paint a clear picture of the kinds of non-economic damages you’re facing in the wake of the wreck.
2. Psychological Evaluations
A mental health professional can speak on how the accident has impacted your psychological state. If you’ve been struggling with anxiety or depression, for example, an evaluation will reveal as much. It will also yield the records needed to prove it.
3. Statements from Friends, Loved Ones, and/or Colleagues
Testimony from those who knew you before the accident could prove invaluable when it comes time to demonstrate how you’re struggling in the aftermath. Your friends, family members, and coworkers should be able to speak on the changes they’ve noticed in your mood, behaviors, and demeanor since the collision.
4. Social Media Posts
Personal injury claimants are generally advised to stay off social media as long as their case is pending; however, that doesn’t mean posts from before the accident can’t contribute to your claim. Old posts can help illustrate the stark difference between your life before the accident and your life after, thereby highlighting how unfulfilling it’s become.
Discuss Your Case with a Car Accident Lawyer in Stuart
If you were hurt in a wreck through no fault of your own, contact Donaldson & Weston for help building your claim. We have represented more than 10,000 clients in personal injury claims, and we’re not afraid to go up against even the largest insurance carriers. Call 772-266-5555 or complete the Contact Form on our website to schedule your free initial consultation with a car accident attorney in Stuart.
