Filing a lawsuit more than likely wasn’t your first option when you found yourself suffering some sort of harm at the hands of another person. Litigation in Texas’ civil courts covers a range of claims from breach of contract to wrongful death and everything in between.
Like most other people, you may wonder what types of damages, or compensation, you could receive if you succeed in proving your claim. Some general categories exist, but the type of damages you could receive may also vary depending on the type of lawsuit.
General damages
The potential damages available in most legal actions include the following:
- It’s difficult to put a dollar amount on damages such as pain and suffering and mental anguish, but that is part of what the court will determine if it rules in your favor.
- Other damages, referred to as compensatory damages, can be easily calculated because they often come with documented evidence. For instance, if you suffered injuries in a car accident, you can quantify financial losses such as your medical bills and the income you lost during your recovery.
- The law allows for certain damages, called punitive damages, to “punish” the other party for being reckless or intentional in the actions that led to the harm done to you. For instance, if a surgeon operates while impaired by alcohol or drugs and you suffer injuries as a result, the court may award this type of damages to punish and make an example of him or her to deter others from doing the same thing.
Even though just about any civil litigation could include the types of damages listed above, the law may allow other damages for certain types of claims.
What other types of damages could you receive?
Depending on the type of harm suffered, you could receive an award of damages more specific to your claim. Consider the following:
- If your lawsuit has to do with another party failing to keep his or her promises made in a contract, you could receive damages specific to that scenario. You may also receive non-monetary damages when money just isn’t enough to adequately resolve the situation.
- If your lawsuit has to do with injuries suffered by you due to another party’s negligence, you could receive damages for both the physical and emotional damages that often accompany personal injury claims.
- If your lawsuit has to do with the loss of a loved one at the hands of another party, you could receive damages to help pay for his or her last medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, the loss of income your loved one would have brought to the family, and more.
As you can see, damages can vary depending on the type of case. In order to know what types of damages you may seek in a civil claim, you would greatly benefit from consulting with an attorney who specializes in litigation.
