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What are Damages?

What are damages and what do they mean in a legal context?

DAMAGES ARE ANY COSTS OR LOSSES THAT RELATE TO YOUR CASE.

Damages are essentially a summary of the cost (or losses) of your injury. This cost is a combination of things like medical bills, lost wages, legal fees, physical or emotional rehabilitation, property damage, pain, suffering, discomfort, or any other claimed loss.

These damages are all added up into a final figure, and this amount gets submitted as part of your Demand Package.

Click here to learn more about Demands and Demand Packages.

How do we know what to include as part of damages? Well, while every personal injury case is unique, most cases share similar types of losses. Here are some of the most common:

  • Medical Bills from Ambulance services, Doctors Appointments, Medication, Treatment, Imaging Procedures, or Hospital Stays

  • Lost Wages as a result of time missed from work due to your injury

  • Bills for Mental Health Treatment, Psychiatric Visits, etc.

  • Damage to your vehicle or other property

  • Compensation for pain, suffering, anguish, and ongoing discomfort

  • Others

Here is an example of a very simple demand letter:

While a formal demand letter from a Law Firm or Attorney looks quite different, the essence is the same. It is a straightforward request to settle the claim out of court, and comes with itemized expenses and an explanation.

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