Are You Owed Special Damages After An Accident?

29 July 2022
 Categories: Law, Blog


When the other driver in an accident is at fault, you might be on track to be paid. Monetary damages cover all the ways you have been affected by an accident not already covered by other means. Within the broad category of damages are something known as special damages. To find out more, read on.

Understand How Damages Work

Damages go beyond injuries and wrecked vehicles. To get a better idea of the scope of what is meant by damages, take a look at a few common forms of damage below:

  • Medical treatment costs associated with the accident injuries.
  • Lost wages from the time missed from work.
  • Payment for vehicles that are deemed to be a total loss.

Although special damages are not always present in a car accident case, victims could be walking away from compensation if they don't at least know about them.

What Are Special Damages?

This category covers damages that are, well, special. They may or may not apply to your case:

Mitigation damages – Something is mitigated when it's covered or taken care of. If you incurred expenses to deal with any aspect of the accident, then you might have mitigation damages. For example, if your vehicle was damaged but deemed repairable, you might be able to recoup the following mitigation damages from the at-fault driver's insurer:

  • Towing costs.
  • A tarp to cover the vehicle while it waits to be repaired.

When you must take an action because of the accident, keep a record of it and be reimbursed.

Loss of personal property – An accident might have caused the loss of or damage to things like your cell phone, a handbag, an expensive coat, or a child's car seat. Speak to your lawyer if an irreplaceable item was lost or damaged.

Domestic expenses – Most adults have others depending on them for things. They might have children, an adult, or others to care for. However, it's difficult to help others when you need to heal from your injuries. Household help might be needed not just for yourself but for others accustomed to getting that care from you. If you must hire someone to do chores, cook, clean, provide transportation, and more, you can be reimbursed for those expenses.

Though a lot of the above expenses seem minor in comparison to your medical bills, they can add up. Just knowing that you can be paid for some of them can bring a sense of relief. To find out more about any of the above, speak to a personal injury lawyer.


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