What Types of Damages Can I Recover in a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

If you’ve recently suffered an injury in an accident, questions are likely racing through your mind. Medical bills pile up fast, time away from work hurts your income, and emotional stress starts to take a toll. It’s a lot happening at once. How are you ever going to recover from this?

Most people don’t know what they’re entitled to – or how to put words to everything they’ve lost. At The Cassidy Law Firm LLC, our personal injury lawyers talk to people in Shrewsbury every day who feel overwhelmed and are taking a significant financial hit. You don’t have to have the answers. That’s why we’re here.

Economic Damages: Recovering Your Financial Losses

Economic damages cover the direct financial losses from your injury. These damages are usually clear-cut and straightforward because you can track them with bills, receipts, and paycheck records. Typical examples of economic damages include:

• Medical Expenses – Emergency room visits, hospital stays, doctor’s appointments, physical therapy sessions, and prescriptions

• Lost Wages – Income you miss when you can’t work because of your injury

• Reduced Earning Ability – When injuries mean you can’t work at the same capacity or earn the same income as before the accident

• Property Damage – The cost to repair or replace damaged items, such as your vehicle or personal belongings

You need to document these losses carefully. Clear records strengthen your claim and show exactly how the accident affected you financially.

Non-Economic Damages: Addressing Your Personal Losses

Not every injury shows up on a bill. Non-economic damages reflect the personal impact an accident has on your day-to-day life. Common types of non-economic damages include:

• Pain and Suffering – Ongoing pain can turn everyday tasks into constant struggles and serve as a daily reminder of the injury.

• Emotional Distress – Anxiety, sleepless nights, and mood swings often follow an accident and can be just as hard to deal with as the injury itself.

• Loss of Enjoyment of Life – When you can’t enjoy the things that once brought you happiness, that loss matters – whether it’s a hobby, a routine, or time with family.

• Loss of Companionship – Injuries can shift family roles, strain relationships, and leave loved ones carrying emotional weight they didn’t expect.

Punitive Damages: Punishing Reckless Behavior

Sometimes, courts award punitive damages. Unlike economic and non-economic damages, punitive damages aren’t about paying you back for your losses. Instead, they exist to punish the person or company who caused your injury and discourage reckless or malicious behavior.

Punitive damages don’t apply to every case. New Jersey courts reserve these for situations involving intentional wrongdoing, extreme negligence, or reckless disregard for others’ safety. For example, a drunk driver causing a severe accident or a company knowingly selling a dangerous product might face punitive damages. They’re meant to send a clear message that unsafe or reckless behavior won’t be tolerated.

Are There Limits on Damages in New Jersey?

New Jersey does not set limits on economic or non-economic damages in most personal injury cases. Punitive damages, however, do have a cap. The court will award either $350,000 or five times the total of your other damages, whichever amount is higher.

Your Story Matters in a Personal Injury Case

Every injury affects people in different ways. Some deal with chronic pain, others face months without a paycheck, and many experience both. Your story, your stress, and your recovery deserve personal attention – not a one-size-fits-all approach.

At The Cassidy Law Firm LLC, we take the time to understand how your injury changed your life. We focus on the physical, financial, and emotional impact so we can build a claim that reflects what you’ve truly lost.

Knowing the types of damages available helps you make informed decisions. If you’re unsure what your case may involve, reach out to The Cassidy Law Firm LLC. We’ll walk through your options and help you take the next step forward.