In a California vehicle injury claim, multiple defaulters are held jointly responsible for causing economic damages. But each defendant is liable separately for their share of non-economic losses. Two or more parties can be held liable for the full amount of injuries suffered by the accident victim. In the wake of a motorcycle crash, the motorcycle wreck injury attorney would help you claim your non-economic damages too.
The defendant can be held responsible for 100% of your damages, even though the actual costs are worth 20% only. However, you would need the services of a semi-truck accident attorney to deal with several and joint liability.
Joint And Several Liability After A Car Accident
Joint and Several Liability usually refers to the fact that you, as an accident victim, can go after multiple people. This is the reason that you need an auto accident attorney in the wake of an accident. This legal doctrine has been in existence for an extended period of time. It is primarily meant to secure the rights of those who are unable to collect compensation after an accident. So even if the main defaulter doesn’t have the resources to reimburse you, you can pursue the other defaulter for damages.
Economic Damages Covered By This Liability
In the immediate aftermath of an accident, it isn’t easy to keep track of the bills. Medical bills and other associated expenditures are the least of your concerns at that time. However, these bills can severely affect your economic position if they are not paid on time. The Joint and Several Liability usually covers out of pocket expenditures. Here are some financial losses included under this liability.
- Future medical expenses of the victim
- Property damage expenses
- Loss of livelihood
- Cost of advanced treatment procedures
What Are The Things Included In The Non-Economic Damages?
Under the Joint and Several Liability, non-economic accidents do not usually involve out of pocket expenses. These damages are often subjective, and assigning a monetary value to them is quite severe. Here is the list of non-economic accidents on whose basis you are entitled to claim compensation.
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Impairment
- Suffering and pain
Contexts Where Parties Are Not Severally and Jointly Responsible
Well, there are instances where several parties which caused a crash are liable for non-economic damages under the California Law. The attorney would help you to find out the exact damage and the amount of compensation you can claim in the court. The California law also states that each defaulter would pay for non-economic costs that equal the percentage of fault.
Also, note that the state of California doesn’t put restrictions on non-economic damages. All these factors make it more relevant to consult a professional attorney after a crash.
For questions related to filing an injury lawsuit, do not hesitate to contact Nakase Law firm. If your dear ones are injured in an accident suffering due to the negligence of others, contact them at the earliest.
