What kind of injuries and damages can I recover for?

ANSWER: You can recover for any injuries or damages that were caused or contributed to by the fault of another, whether they can be reduced to a specific dollar amount such as medical bills or lost income or involve non-economic damages sometimes referred to as pain and suffering. Typical economic damages in a personal injury case include medical and related health care costs as well as any lost wages, salary or other income. Non-economic damages are much broader but more difficult to quantify because they include such things as the pain you have suffered; the inability to do things you did before your accident; scarring or disfigurement; mental or emotional distress; and the consequences experienced by your spouse and sometimes your family. All of these damages have both a past and future component. Past economic damages can be proved by actual bills or tax returns. Future damages are usually estimated based on past experience, sometimes using an expert economist or doctor.