Hundreds of thousands of claims for personal injury are filed annually, making these cases extremely common. Yet many people continue to lack complete understanding of how they work. 

In contrast to property damage, an injury to the body, mind, or emotions is referred to in law as a personal injury. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries if someone else is to blame for your injuries. When someone is hurt because of someone else's negligence or wrongdoing, personal injury laws hold those responsible liable.

In personal injury claims, future losses may or may not apply, but it is still a good idea to familiarize yourself with the concept in case you need to calculate the losses.

While our Connecticut personal injury attorneys will offer some insight into this topic below, you should speak to one of them directly if you are injured and preparing to file a claim, as your case may include unique circumstances.

Future Damages Explained

Damages in a personal injury case are any harm to you for which you should receive compensation. If you were injured in a car accident and your medical expenses came out to $20,000, then $20,000 would be your damages. When the injuries suffered in the car accident have lingering effects, things become a little more complex. 

It's typical for a plaintiff to file a lawsuit before all lingering injuries have been addressed and all damages have been assessed. Since there is a statute of limitations, you may find yourself filing a lawsuit even if you still have years of recovery ahead of you. Let's say you fell in a store and are still experiencing back pain and are unable to work for years to come. You are still entitled to compensation and your future pain should still be connected to the initial accident you are suing for. This is known as future damages because your current injuries will continue to cause problems in the future.

The Challenges of Trying to Calculate Future Damages

You must carefully analyze how your injuries have impacted your life now and how they are likely to impact it in the future to determine the value of future damages you are entitled to.

There may be some future damages that you don't even account for if you've never experienced a personal injury lawsuit. For this reason, discussing your case with a CT personal injury lawyer can be beneficial. 

Here are some possible factors that you may consider when estimating future losses.

• Does your injury impact your job or your ability to work in your chosen career in the future?
• What is the level of pain and suffering your injuries have caused you and likely to cause you in the future?
• Has injury made it difficult or will it make it difficult for you to maintain a romantic relationship with your partner?
• Has the injury prevented you from advancing in your education or career?
• How many prescription drugs will you require to treat your injury?
• Will you need major operations or other procedures in the near future?
• Will your injury increase the likelihood of developing additional conditions, such as arthritis or bed sores?

Testimony From Expert Witnesses is Important

You must provide justification for why you are entitled to the compensation you are seeking in any legal action. This part of a lawsuit may be challenging, especially in determining potential future damages. You cannot simply take out all of your receipts, count them up, and provide the total to the judge because the damages have not yet occurred. Instead, you will need to be able to support your claims with logic and evidence.

In most disputes involving future damages, the plaintiffs and their attorneys will call experts to testify. An economist may, for instance, assist you in determining how much money you would lose out on if you were no longer able to pursue your career of choice. Doctors and therapists can assist in giving you an idea of how long it will take to recover and whether you are likely to have persistent problems in the interim.

If You Need Advice, Call the CT Personal Injury Lawyers at Brandon J. Broderick

As you can see, figuring out the damages you should receive for potential losses can take a lot of time and effort. You likely need help with any personal injury matter, but when it comes to determining future losses, getting assistance from the personal injury attorneys at the Connecticut office of Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, would be a smart move.

You can bargain for a larger settlement if you have a reasonable argument. This is what we do: we fight to get the compensation our clients are entitled to. 

Contact our CT office today to speak to an attorney for a free consultation.