Types of Monetary Damages in Alaska Personal Injury Cases

 

If you were injured in an auto crash, truck or motorcycle collision, slip and fall, or other type of accident, you might already know that you can seek compensation under Alaska personal injury laws. Generally, these funds are intended to reimburse you for the devastating losses you sustain due to your injuries. Still, you might not be aware that there are various types available under state statutes on monetary damages, and additional rules do apply to the amount you can ultimately recover.

Because of the many consequences that affect your life as an injured victim, you should get a basic understanding about how monetary damages work and what they aim to cover in terms of losses. You can trust your Anchorage, AK personal injury lawyer to tackle the specific legal details, but an overview of the types of compensation might be useful.

 

Economic Damages

You will incur many different costs that are directly related to treating your injuries, and medical expenses will make up a large portion. Examples include amounts for emergency transport, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, pain medications, and many others. There are also the follow-up visits for care, for which you might also pay transportation costs. In addition, you might not be able to work because of your injuries. You lose wages for every day that you miss.

These losses are economic in nature because they are easily ascertained by reviewing invoices, receipts, or other paperwork.

 

Non-Economic Damages

There are also losses you sustain that are not so readily definable and cannot be measured via documentation, but you certainly endure hardship because of your injuries. Non-economic damages are less concrete, so you might often hear them referred to as “pain and suffering.” However, under Alaska’s statute, you may also qualify to recover this type of compensation for:

  • Inconvenience;
  • Physical disability;
  • Scarring and disfigurement;
  • Diminished quality of life;
  • Loss of consortium, which includes damages based upon how your injuries affect your personal relationships.

 

In Alaska, there may be statutory caps which apply to the amount of non-economic damages depending on the type of personal injury claim being asserted. malpractice.

 

Punitive Damages

In cases where the personal injuries are the result of a crime or extremely dangerous actions, a victim may be able to obtain punitive damages. These are NOT intended as compensation, but rather to punish the wrongdoer and discourage others from engaging in the same misconduct. Under Alaska law, punitive damages can be challenging because you are required to prove the other person’s actions:

  • Were outrageous or malicious; OR,
  • Demonstrated reckless indifference to the interests of someone else.

 

Consult with a Personal Injury Attorney in Anchorage, AK Today

This summary of how monetary damages work explains the basics, but there are many additional details that affect the amount you may recover. You have an advantage in the legal process by working with experienced legal counsel, soplease contact Power & Power Law to learn how our team can help. We can set up a no-cost case evaluation at our offices in Anchorage, Alaska  or on Zoom to review your situation and explain issues related to compensation.