Hit-and-run accidents in Arizona can be terrifying, and victims are often left struggling to recover compensation. If you or somebody you love has been involved in a hit-and-run accident, the process of recovering payment for injuries and property damage can seem daunting. Yes, the aftermath of a hit-and-run crash is more challenging than a typical vehicle accident claim. Here, we want to discuss the possibility of recovering damages after a hit-and-run occurs in Arizona.
Economic Damages for a Hit-and-Run Claim
After a hit-and-run accident occurs in Arizona, an injury victim will likely receive different types of bills, invoices, receipts, and estimates all resulting from the actual incident. All of these calculable expenses are considered economic damages, sometimes referred to as special damages, for a personal injury claim. Some of the most common economic damages revolving around hit-and-run accident claims in Arizona include:
- Emergency medical costs arising due to the incident
- All ongoing hospital or doctor costs
- Coverage of physical therapy, rehabilitation, and medical devices
- Out-of-pocket costs are rising due to the incident (assistance with household services)
- Lost income if a victim is unable to work
- Property damage expenses for vehicle repair
- Coverage of rental vehicle costs
There is no limit to how much economic damages a person can receive. Usually, an experienced Phoenix personal injury attorney will request compensation for all calculated damages under this particular category.
Non-Economic Damages for a Hit-and-Run Claim
You may see non-economic damages referred to as general damages for a personal injury claim. These are a bit different than the economic damages just mentioned because they are not as easily measured. These types of losses revolve around unseen types of injuries a hit-and-run accident victim may have, including their physical, emotional, and psychological pain and suffering. These damages are meant to provide compensation for a loss of quality of life caused by the incident, the recovery process, and any disability arising as a result of the injuries.
There are a few different methods for calculating non-economic damages, and again, this is more challenging because there are not any direct bills or receipts related to these types of losses. Instead, a common method used by attorneys is called the “multiplier method.” Using this method, an attorney would take the total of the economic damages and then multiply that by a set number, usually a number ranging from two to five. For example, if a person experiences $200,000 of economic damages, an attorney could use a multiplier of “three” to come up with a non-economic damage total of $600,000.
Another method for calculating economic damages is using a “per diem method,” in which a dollar value is assigned to every day a person is expected to experience pain and suffering to come up with the total.
Contact an Attorney for Assistance
If you or somebody you care about has been injured in a hit-and-run accident but are struggling to recover compensation for your losses, we encourage you to contact a car accident lawyer in Phoenix today. Hit-and-run accident claims can be challenging, particularly when working to recover compensation through an insurance carrier. Let an attorney conduct an investigation into the incident on your behalf and handle all communication with other parties so you have a better chance of recovering the compensation you need.