What types of damages are available in a personal injury claim?

In South Carolina, people who have been injured by the negligence or intentional conduct of another person have the right to pursue a personal injury claim to recover compensation for damages. Damages are usually divided into two types: economic and non-economic. Economic damages are the quantifiable costs associated with an injury and typically include medical expenses, lost wages, and property repairs or replacements. Non-economic damages are designed to compensate someone for things like pain and suffering, emotional distress, or loss of companionship or enjoyment of life. In addition to these two main types of damages, people in South Carolina might also be able to pursue punitive damages when a defendant’s actions were particularly reckless or egregious. Punitive damages are designed to punish a defendant by requiring them to pay an amount above and beyond what a typical injury settlement would cover. Lastly, in cases where a plaintiff suffered a catastrophic injury due to the negligence of another, they may be eligible for what are known as “loss of consortium” damages. This type of compensation seeks to compensate the injured plaintiff for the loss of physical and emotional support from their spouse or other family members. Overall, South Carolina personal injury claims are designed to restore an injured plaintiff as closely as possible to the condition they were in before their injury. The types of damages available will depend on the individual facts of each case and an experienced attorney can help an injured plaintiff identify the appropriate damages to pursue.

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What types of damages are available in a personal injury claim?

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