Economic vs. Non-Economic Damages After a New Hampshire Car Accident

If you’ve been in a serious New Hampshire car accident, then you know how it can affect every part of your life. Medical bills can cause financial pressure, time away from work can affect income, and the physical and emotional impact may leave you feeling shaky and traumatized long after the crash itself. Fortunately, if another driver’s negligence causes you injury, state law allows you to seek compensation for the harm you have suffered. In New Hampshire, compensation generally falls into two categories: economic damages and non-economic damages. Understanding the difference between these two types of damages helps accident victims better understand what a claim may include. If you or a loved one has suffered physical, financial, or psychological harm in a car accident in New Hampshire, you might be entitled to compensation for some or all of these injuries. Contact the New Hampshire personal injury lawyers at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. today at 888-332-5855 or online for a free consultation. We assist car accident victims throughout New Hampshire, including Derry, Concord, and Keene. We want to help you receive the fair and full compensation you deserve.

What Are Economic Damages in New Hampshire?

Economic damages compensate an injured person for financial losses directly caused by the accident. These losses are tangible and measurable, usually through bills, receipts, invoices, or other documentation that shows how much money you’ve spent or lost. Medical expenses are often the largest component of economic damages. After a serious car crash, you may face emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, physical therapy, prescription medications, and follow-up appointments. You may also have injuries that require ongoing care or rehabilitation. You might be entitled to receive future medical costs such as these. Economic damages also include lost income. When injuries prevent you from working, you may lose wages, bonuses, or other employment benefits. In more severe cases, injuries may reduce your ability to work or force you to change careers. You might be eligible for compensation for your reduced earning capacity. Property damage also falls under economic damages. Replacement costs or repairs to your vehicle are usually included, along with damage to personal property inside the vehicle at the time of the accident. Other financial losses may qualify as well. Transportation to medical appointments, home modifications required due to injuries, or hiring help for tasks the injured person can no longer perform may all be part of the total economic damages in a claim.

What Are Non-Economic Damages?

Of course, not every loss caused by a car accident will appear on a bill or receipt. Many car accident victims suffer significant physical or psychological injuries that cause distress and significantly decrease their quality of life. Non-economic damages can help compensate you for these intangible losses. Non-economic damages in New Hampshire typically include:
  • Pain and suffering. Physical pain from injuries can last for weeks, months, or even years. Chronic pain and discomfort, mobility limitations, and lingering physical symptoms can affect everyday activities.
  • Emotional distress. Car accidents can lead to anxiety, depression, sleep problems, or post-traumatic stress, particularly when the crash was severe or involved life-threatening injuries to you or others.
  • Loss of enjoyment of life. Many people find that injuries or mental trauma prevent them from participating in activities they once loved, such as sports, hobbies, or time spent with family. Even routine tasks may become more difficult.
  • Loss of consortium. Serious injuries can also affect personal relationships. You may be entitled to damages when injuries interfere with companionship, affection, or intimacy within a marriage.
Because these harms do not come with a fixed price, determining their value requires careful consideration of how the accident has affected your daily life.

How the Personal Injury Lawyers at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. Law Firm Can Help

Calculating damages after a car accident is a complex task that involves far more than adding up medical bills and repair costs. At Tenn And Tenn, our experienced personal injury attorneys can conduct a thorough investigation into current losses, long-term consequences, and how injuries have changed your life. We’ll also gather the necessary evidence and work with medical and financial experts to develop a clear picture of the damages. Our comprehensive approach helps ensure that you seek compensation that reflects the full extent of your losses. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, call the skilled New Hampshire personal injury lawyers of Tenn And Tenn, P.A. without delay. New Hampshire’s statute of limitations can vary for filing a claim for compensation, so you need to act sooner rather than later. Contact us today at 888-332-5855 or online for your free evaluation. We have helped countless injured New Hampshire residents fight for the compensation they deserve. We represent clients throughout the state, from Berlin to Dover. We want to help you, too.