Philadelphia, PA personal injury attorney Leon Aussprung M.D., ESQ. talks about the kind of damages might that be awarded in a brain or spinal cord injury case. He notes that damages in these cases generally fall into two categories: economic and non-economic. Economic damages typically include lost wages—both past and future—when an individual is no longer able to work. They also cover medical care, including past expenses (sometimes subject to liens) and anticipated future care. For this reason, bringing in experts in rehabilitation, life-care planning, and economics is essential to properly evaluate the cost of long-term medical needs.

Non-economic damages, on the other hand, focus on the human impact. These include pain and suffering that an individual endures for the remainder of their life. They may also extend to loss of consortium—damages awarded to children for the loss of a parent’s support or to a spouse for changes in the marital relationship. Together, these categories ensure that both the financial and personal consequences of an injury are considered.