Damages
Some people object to the very concept of compensating injured accident victims with money. They might feel that individuals who have been injured should simply be strong and bear their losses. After all, their no-fault insurance should cover their medical bills and lost wages. It is a good bet that these people have never been seriously injured in an accident. Nor is it likely that anyone in their family has suffered such a fate. Nevertheless, it is fair to debate the issue of directly translating pain into dollars, which is called damages.
Some may feel that it demeans the value of human suffering to place a financial value on it. Yet that is the only method our legal system has to redress the injurious acts committed by negligent motorists, shop owners, corporations, etc. As long as this method of compensation is available, injured accident victims and their attorneys will seek to receive maximum financial redress for the injury.
Still others point to the added costs of doing business they feel that injury lawsuits cause. They believe that these added costs are passed on to the consumer in the form of higher prices. There is some merit to this argument, but many believe it is worth paying these higher prices in exchange for keeping the right to sue for compensation. Not only can financial compensation help to make the accident victim whole, but the threat of lawsuits keeps companies accountable for their errors. The Bible at Exodus 21:25 prescribes financial compensation for pain inflicted by another. There is nothing inherently wrong with seeking compensation for injuries caused by another person.
Pending further changes to our negligence laws, individuals are free to look to the courts for financial compensation for injuries caused by the negligent acts of others. Given that this system, or some form of it, is likely to remain in effect for many years to come, the question becomes, How much is an injury case worth? There is no way to know for sure what a case might settle for until the medical treatment is concluded and the doctor’s prognosis rendered.
