• Medical payments
• What about my lost earnings?
• Pain and suffering damages
• Determining the value of your claim
• Wrongful death
• Head, spinal and brain injuries

No-Fault Medical Payments coverage on automobile insurance policies may be one of the least understood types of coverage. It pays the medical bills of the driver and passengers of that particular automobile if there is an accident. This pays regardless of who is at fault for the accident. If you are in an accident, even if it is your fault, the medical payments coverage will pay the medical bills, up to the set limit, incurred by you and your passengers. Medical Payments are usually separate from any general damage settlement for injuries caused by someone else. Medical payments coverage usually has no deductible, and you can select any licensed doctor or health care facility.

If you are injured as a passenger in an automobile that has no medical payments coverage, your personal medical payments coverage on your own car may well cover your medical bills.

No-Fault Benefits can be confusing. Chances are, if you have been injured in an automobile, and you are covered by Utah No-Fault insurance, you may be entitled to Medical Payments, Lost Wages, and an allowance for Household Services while disabled. When in doubt, ask a reputable accident attorney.

Many victims of accidents miss time on the job due to the injuries they received in an accident. They may lose pay or valuable personal leave time because of the accident. Lost earnings can be a devastating consequence of injury accidents. If the accident is someone else's fault, a claim should be made for the injuries and part of this claim can be for lost earnings from employment. An accident attorney can obtain documentation from your employer of all lost earnings, and make it a part of your claim. If your education has been delayed, or you have missed opportunities for advancement in your employment, the law recognizes your ability to seek compensation for these damages as well.

The measure of your damages for earnings lost due to an accident is usually the gross pay you would have received, before taxes are deducted. If you have been injured in an accident, and have lost earnings or other employment opportunities due to your injuries, you may wish to consult with an accident attorney who is willing to personally answer your questions regarding how you can be reimbursed for your losses. The attorney can also assist you in gathering the necessary evidence to prove your losses to the insurance company, or in court if necessary.

Pain is a very difficult concept to put a dollar amount on when computing damages. Insurance companies are rarely impressed with claims for pain in small cases. Therefore, it is essential that you be able to demonstrate the evidence and duration of real pain. A personal injury attorney should be experienced in proving and presenting this element of damages for your case. Suffering is usually combined with pain as damages; however, suffering is actually something quite different. Pain is the physical sensation you feel. While suffering is the emotional and mental side of that pain. It is important that your personal injury attorney be able to document that evidence supporting your claims of pain and suffering.

Evaluating a personal injury claim can only be done after a complete investigation of all aspects of the case. This includes a detailed analysis of the injury itself; past, present, and future medical status; the rights and liabilities of the parties, as well as their ability to pay.

The opposing lawyers, with their respective client's consent, often settle personal injury cases out of court. When these cases do go to trial, a jury usually decides the question of liability and damages. Damages awarded in personal injury cases usually include payment of medical bills and reimbursement of lost wages, but may also include payment for future medical bills and future wage loss. In most cases, damages are also awarded for physical pain and suffering, disfigurement, or disability that results from the injury.

The unexpected death of a loved one is always a tragic event. The loss of a husband, or wife, or family member often has painful consequences for the entire family. If a family member dies due to the wrongful or negligent act of another person, family members and other next-of-kin may be entitled to damages for their pecuniary loss. Pecuniary loss is a monetary value that includes not only lost wages and support, but also the advice, comfort, assistance, and protection which the family member would have given had they lived.

The surviving spouse and children may be entitled to recover damages for the loss of future earnings caused by the death of a spouse or parent. To determine a fair amount to provide for the future financial needs of the family, the deceased's previous occupation, earnings, and health are considered.

Other family members may recover damages for pecuniary loss based on their relationship with the deceased, and the guidance, comfort, assistance, and protection lost because of the death.

There are two major types of head injury. One is an injury to the brain, caused by a penetration of the skull. The other type of head injury is a closed head injury which may result from a severe whiplash, with or without striking the head, or by a blunt trauma to the head. Either type of traumatic brain injury may trigger a wide range of symptoms including attention and memory deficits, vision or balance problems, personality changes and problem-solving difficulties.

Spinal injuries caused by an accident can include soft tissue injury to the neck, often called whiplash. This occurs when the neck is forced violently back and forth. Damage can also occur to the discs between the vertebrate. A disc injury may range from grade 1, called a bulging disc, to grade 3, called a herniated disc, depending upon the severity of the symptoms and CT or MRI scan results. If you suspect a disc injury, you should consult a specialist right away. These are potentially serious injuries that could have a long term impact on your life. Prompt evaluation, treatment, and documentation of these injuries maximizes your chances of recovery, physically and financially.

Seeking the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney, as soon as possible after the injury, helps preserve the evidence, advance the claim, and secure the compensation to which you may be entitled.