Car Accident Claims and Types of Damages

Careless driving, slippery surfaces and inadequate safety measures while driving are considered amongst the most prevalent causes of road accidents. Accidents occur mainly due to negligence either yours or someone else's. In an accident where one car rams into another, apart from damages to the car, the driver or the passengers also incur injuries. These injuries can be minor or serious depending on the type of accident. If one has been in a car accident which is not his/her fault and consequently suffered injury to self & damages to the car, he/she should consider filing car accident claims to receive compensation for his/her losses.

In a car accident, there are various types of damages that one can make a claim for. These damages can be broadly divided into two categories: General Damages and Special Damages. General damages are losses for which a monetary value cannot be determined & are included, when calculating compensation for accident claims. Common examples of general damages include pain & suffering, mental trauma, permanent injury, loss of a dear one or shortened life expectancy.

Special damages include medical expenses, car damage/replacement costs and lost income. These damages can be valued more accurately than general damages. Claimants should not hesitate to include expenses, like medical costs & lost income in their car accident claims. Further, if an individual was suffering from an injury before the accident, and the incident has worsened or aggravated the suffering, such kind of damage is can also be compensated for.

In a related news report, the parents of a UK teenager terribly injured by a Police car on a 999 call, three years ago are now pursuing a legal battle against the authorities. The Bournemouth based family is demanding compensation of over £300,000 as accident claim.

According to the claim, the patrol car was traveling too fast and had a faulty siren when it ploughed into the boy and caused severe injuries to his head.

The father of the 13 year old boy was quoted by Daily Express as saying: "He was socially confident and had a lot of friends. I don't have any anger, but there's great sadness. He is in a wheelchair and he is very difficult to assess mentally. He can't move except for a small amount in one arm. We are trying to use an ‘eye gaze' system to try to get him to communicate through his eyes, but it is very difficult. All (accident claim) we're doing this for is to secure the future for [the boy]"

An independent inquiry into the matter has found that driver was not responsible for the incident. However, the siren was found to be faulty. A Dorset police spokesperson said: "We can confirm that proceedings have been issued and the matter is being considered."

In such cases, many claimants who hire a claims firm or an injury solicitor receive much better compensation than they had if they had filed accident claims on their own. Hiring a solicitor/claims firm on a ‘no win no fee' basis is advisable. If the solicitor/claims firm loses the case, the claimant is not liable to pay them anything.