Emotional Stress Compensation After a Nashville Bicycle Accident
If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, your monetary losses only tell one part of the story. Pain and suffering, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other emotional stress damages can impact a person’s ability to live a quality life; however, they are frequently overlooked. Known as non-economic damages, these emotional stress damages have no intrinsic monetary value but are designed to compensate victims for the psychological toll that they experienced.
At Raybin & Weissman, our bicycle accident lawyers are determined to get bicycle accident victims the compensation that is rightfully due to them. If you or a loved one has been injured while riding your bike, our legal team can meet with you to discuss your legal options.
Economic Damages
A bicycle accident can cause serious injuries that result in the following easily quantifiable expenses, known as economic damages. These may include:
Medical Expenses
Between the cost of ambulatory services, emergency room care, surgeries, medications, and physical therapy, medical expenses comprise most economic damages in a bicycle accident case.
Future Medical Expenses
An accident that causes catastrophic or severe injuries may result in a person receiving ongoing medical treatment. Future medical damages can be calculated by consulting with treating physicians to determine what surgeries and treatments a person may need in the future, given the natural course of their condition.
Lost Wages
A bicycle accident can leave individuals unable to work for a period while recuperating. Lost wages may last for weeks, months, or even longer.
Non-economic Damages
Non-economic damages include any emotional or psychological detriments that an accident victim experienced. To evaluate the effect that these intangible losses have on a victim’s life, medical records are often heavily relied upon to discern the severity of their condition. Although there is no limit on economic damages, Tennessee imposes a $750,000 non-economic damage cap for each injured plaintiff, regardless of the number of defendants. If the individual experiences a catastrophic injury, the cap increases to $1 million.
Common non-economic damages in a bicycle accident may include:
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering damages may be sought if an accident caused a person physical and/or psychological distress. The physical discomfort of a person’s injuries will also be factored into pain and suffering.
Infliction of Emotional Distress
A plaintiff who experiences severe emotional harm may claim infliction of emotional distress. If claiming negligent infliction of emotional distress (NEID), the plaintiff must prove that the defendant’s conduct caused the emotional injury. To claim NEID under Tennessee law, a physical component must arise out of the emotional distress.
Permanent Disability
Injuries that result in permanent disability can impact a person’s daily life. Permanent disability encompasses far more than the physical toll that an accident has on an individual, also dealing with the emotional strain that it places on the victim and their relationship with loved ones.
The True Cost of Intangible Losses
The ramifications of non-economic damages can hurt an individual’s life, making it challenging to form lasting bonds. A bicycle accident that leaves you with long-term symptoms or permanent disability can affect your emotional and psychological health, causing you post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other detrimental health consequences.
At Raybin & Weissman, we strive to recover maximum compensation for all injured persons, no matter how grueling the fight may be. Our legal team understands the gravity of what you have been through, and we believe that settling for less than what your case is worth is unacceptable.
Speak with a Nashville Personal Injury Attorney Today
Injuries in a bicycle crash can be devastating, making you put your life on hold. Between lost income and medical costs, you may lose hope that your situation will improve. At Raybin & Weissman, our Nashville personal injury lawyers are committed to helping you recover just compensation for your accident claim. To learn more about our services, contact us online or by phone at (615) 256-6666 today.