An auto or car accident is one of the most frequent causes of personal injury cases in the United States. Other common types include slip and fall, medical malpractice, wrongful death, workplace injuries, or product liability. The common ground among these common personal injury accidents is negligence, which is the fundamental principle in personal injury cases. Without clear signs of negligence, your personal injury case might be denied.

General (non-economic), special (economic), and punitive damages are the three types of compensatory damages in personal injury cases. General damages refer to subjective or non-financial damages (i.e., pain and suffering), and special damages are objective and tangible (i.e., medical bills). In contrast, punitive damages are awarded in extreme personal injury cases, often involving wrongful death.

The amount of compensation you can recover is dependent on your injuries and damages. The greater they are, the higher your compensation will be. Insurance companies may downplay your injuries and damages, resulting in lower compensation. With a personal injury attorney, you’ll better understand how much compensation you actually deserve.

The statute of limitations — the deadline for filing a claim — varies among different states. In most cases, you have two years from the accident date to initiate a personal injury case. Keep in mind that it could be shorter or longer, depending on your state. A great rule of thumb is to contact a personal injury attorney right after an accident.