The damages from a personal injury lawsuit fall into one of two categories: economic and non-economic damages. Economic losses are designed to return you to the financial position you were in before your injury occurred. These are objective losses that could be measured down to the last dollar. 

Non-economic damages cover the subjective harm your injuries cause. Instead of replacing what you have lost financially, these damages compensate you for the physical and emotional toll you experienced due to your injuries. 

Medical expenses

The most common type of economic damages in these cases involve your medical bills. Because these medical expenses would not have occurred but for the negligence of the other party, you are entitled to recoup your full cost of medical care. 

Pain and Suffering

Another type of compensation could cover your physical pain and suffering. Measuring your pain and suffering is impossible in an objective sense, but the courts can award these damages largely based on the extent of your medical bills. 

Mental Anguish

Damages for mental anguish are similar to pain and suffering. Instead of compensating you for your pain, these damages cover the anguish of reliving a traumatic injury. Mental anguish damages usually involve the emotional harm you deal with after your injuries have healed. 

Lost Wages

Many serious injuries can cause you to miss days, weeks, or months away from work. You could be compensated for every paycheck you miss by filing a personal injury lawsuit. This compensation covers your past lost wages and the paychecks you expect to miss in the future. 

Diminished Earning Power

There could also be damages available if your future employment prospects are impacted by your injury. If your injury limits the type of work you can perform in the future, you might have to settle for a lower-paying job. 

If you do so, you might be able to recover the difference between the salary you will earn and what you could have earned if you remained healthy.