When you are injured as a result of an accident caused by negligence or reckless behavior, consider filing a medical malpractice claim to recover compensation for your damages. A medical error can have a long-term, even permanent, impact on your health and your quality of life. This can include forcing you to take on less strenuous, lower-paying work than you could previously perform or being unable to work again.

The good news is that it is possible to receive compensation for these economic losses through a medical malpractice claim. A medical malpractice claim is a type of personal injury claim, which is a civil claim that an injured victim files against the party responsible for his or her injury to receive compensation for his or her losses. These losses are known as “damages.” Often, a claim is filed against the negligent party’s insurance provider.

The specific damages you can recover depend on the details of your case. Discuss this with your attorney before you file your claim. The following are all of the possible damages that can be recovered through a medical malpractice claim:

Economic Damages

Economic damages are the damages that can be easily quantified. These are sometimes known as “special damages.” In Illinois, there is no limit to the amount of compensation you may seek for economic damages in a medical malpractice claim. Economic damages include the following:

• Medical bills, which include both present and future medical needs;

• Lost wages, both current and projected; and

• Other economic losses associated with the loss of the victim’s job, such as the loss of employment benefits.

Non-economic Damages

Non-economic damages are the damages that cannot be easily quantified. They are often intangible and might not be immediately apparent. Until 2010, compensation for these damages in Illinois was capped at $500,000. Today, there is no cap on the amount of compensation a victim can receive for non-economic damages in a medical malpractice claim.

Non-economic damages include the following:

• Mental anguish following the trauma of the injury and the victim’s need for mental healthcare services to address this anguish;

• The victim’s reduced quality of life;

• The need for equipment such as a mobility aid or a disability aid;

• The need for hired help to handle the household duties the victim can no longer handle; and

• Over-the-counter pain medication, bandages, ointment for scarring, and any other minor remedies for the minor physical effects of the injury.

Work with an Experienced Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorney

If you have suffered in any way due to a preventable medical error, you could be entitled to receive compensation for your damages through a medical malpractice claim. To learn more about filing and pursuing a medical malpractice claim, contact our team of dedicated medical malpractice attorneys at Baizer Kolar P.C. Our small team is dedicated to working together to help our clients get the money they deserve.