Collisions between motor vehicles and pedestrians very often result in serious injuries to the pedestrian involved without any harm at all coming to the negligent driver who hit them. Fortunately, situations like this can also often serve as grounds for the injured pedestrian to file suit against the negligent driver and demand compensation for all their crash-related “damages”—if, that is, they know what those damages are, how much money they are worth, and how to effectively incorporate them into a lawsuit or settlement demand.
Assistance from a qualified lawyer can be important to achieving a favorable outcome from any personal injury case, but it can be especially crucial to getting the most money possible for damages in Phoenix, AZ pedestrian accidents. Here is a broad overview of the categories of losses you can factor into your claim with help from the professionals at Phillips Law Group.
Recovering for Economic Forms of Harm
Of the two types of damages that may be recoverable through a pedestrian accident claim in Phoenix, AZ, “economic” damages are far more straightforward. These objective financial losses can be assigned specific values through evidence like bills, invoices, and receipts. Economic damages typically center around things like medical expenses, lost work income, and damage to personal property caused by the accident in question.
It is worth emphasizing that compensable economic damages can include past and future losses. For example, a comprehensive lawsuit can seek restitution for the already assessed costs of emergency medical treatment after a wreck and for the expected future costs of rehabilitative and maintenance care, like physical therapy.
How Are “Non-Economic” Damages Defined?
“Non-economic” damages, on the other hand, are entirely subjective in terms of their financial value, which means they must be defined qualitatively based on each injured Phoenix pedestrian’s unique experiences. The archetypal example of this kind of loss is physical “pain and suffering,” but it is also possible to recover for things like emotional anguish and lost overall quality of life as well.
The right strategy for assigning financial values to non-economic damages can vary from case to case, as a qualified attorney can explain in more detail during a confidential consultation. Just like with economic damages, though, it is vital to account for the effects these losses will have on an injured person for years and sometimes decades to come, rather than just the effects they have already had by the time a lawsuit is filed.
Punitive Damages in Pedestrian Crash Claims
In Arizona, courts can only impose “punitive damages” against a defendant in addition to the “compensatory damages” mentioned above if that defendant acted with an “evil hand and evil mind.” In practice, this means these damages are only a factor in rare cases involving intentional malice or extremely egregious negligence—for example, driving while very drunk and hitting a pedestrian as a result.
A Phoenix, AZ Attorney Can Help Maximize Pedestrian Accident Damages
Civil restitution cannot completely make up for the immense physical and psychological harm that a traumatic pedestrian crash can cause. That said, it can do a lot to alleviate the impact of your various financial losses after an incident and mitigate the long-term harm caused by other types of losses.
A compassionate pedestrian accident lawyer from Phillips Law Group can answer any further questions you have about damages in Phoenix, AZ pedestrian accident claims during a private initial meeting. Schedule yours by calling today. Our team is confident we have the knowledge and experience to help you pursue the best possible outcome.
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