If you’ve been injured in an automobile, bicycle, or motorcycle accident that was caused by someone else’s negligent behavior or your health has suffered as a result of using a defective or harmful product in Madison, MS, you may be entitled to file a claim and recover damages (i.e. compensation). When you choose to file a claim, you’re not only recognizing an individual or entity for their negligent behavior, but you’re also requesting that they compensate you for the damages you suffered.
Damages is a legal term that is used in personal injury cases. Damages serve as a form of monetary relief that is provided to a victim to make up for how an accident has affected their life and livelihood. Because a person or business cannot take back what they have done or neglected to do, they can provide a victim with damages (compensation) that can help make their circumstances a little easier to live with.
There are various damages you might be eligible to receive, but it all comes down to (1) the laws that govern personal injury cases in your state, (2) what your injuries/losses are. Some of the damages that are most often awarded in personal injury cases, many of which you might be entitled to receive include:
- Lost income- If the accident has resulted in you being unable to work or has cost you your job, the court may award you compensation based on how much you would have made had you been able to continue working.
- Property loss
- Pain and suffering
- Medical bills
- Loss of consortium. If the accident has impacted your relationship in a negative way, your spouse or partner may be entitled to recover compensation for this.
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
Examples of Verdicts Reached in Personal Injury Cases
To give you an idea as to how much a victim might receive after winning their personal injury case, below are a few of the verdicts that have been reached:
- A California jury awarded a couple more than $2 billion in damages back in May 2019 after they alleged Bayer’s Roundup weed killer caused their cancer [Source: Reuters]. The company has already been faced with several lawsuits, some of which are still pending and others that have already settled. Although the jury overseeing this particular case did award the couple with a hefty amount, the source highlighted that “the large punitive damages award is likely to be reduced due to U.S. Supreme Court rulings that limit the ratio of punitive to compensatory damages to 9:1”.
- The estate of a deceased hospice nurse was awarded $32 million after the woman was killed after she engaged in an accident in Kentucky with a dump truck [Source: Courier Journal]. The operator of the truck had been driving while under the influence which resulted in him crossing over the center line and striking the woman’s vehicle head-on. According to the news source, the woman, identified as Marie Garmon, 43, was trapped inside her vehicle after the collision “for more than an hour while firefighters fought the extract her.” Sadly, she passed away five days after the collision.
The source went on to explain that the Garmones turned down all offers to settle as they wanted the case to go to trial. The verdict returned a $5 million award for pain and suffering, $10 million for punitive damages, and the remaining amount to compensate for the other damages that were suffered by both the victim and her family.
- A single mother in MS received nearly $3 million after her vehicle was rear-ended by an 18-wheeler on I-10 near Gautier [Source: Sun Herald]. The woman, identified as Ylonda Woullard, was headed east on I-10 when traffic began to slow. The trucker who had been traveling behind her failed to slow down and collided into the back of her vehicle resulting in her suffering severe injuries to her neck and back. Woullard had to undergo multiple surgeries as a result of the wreck which has limited her physical abilities. The news source stated that “at the end of a four-day trial, the jury found that truck driver Curtis Harris Jr. and the trucking company caused the accident through negligence.”
Ready to hire a Madison, MS personal injury attorney who can help you recover the damages you are due?
If you would like to have an experienced personal injury lawyer in Madison, MS determine whether you have a viable case worth pursuing as well as how much you might be entitled to collect in damages, contact Ballard Law, PLLC today. It is important to understand that each personal injury case differs from one another and that there is no standard amount that is awarded for each type of damage you list in your lawsuit. While the court may consider past verdicts to help determine what might be a reasonable amount to provide you with, it all comes down to your particular circumstances.
So, if you are ready to speak with a qualified personal injury lawyer in Madison regarding the incident that recently transpired, contact our office today to schedule an initial consultation.
You can reach Ballard Law, PLLC at:
108 S. President Street
Jackson, MS 39201
Phone: 769-572-5111
Website: www.ballardlaw.ms