Depending on the damages owed in a Washington, DC construction accident will determine how it is calculated. The two main types of damages that an injured party may receive in a construction accident are economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages awarded in construction accidents include funds for medical bills and lost wages. These damages are calculated by the cost of the injured parties' prior medical bills, the cost of their future medical needs, and lost wages from the date of the accident up to the date of the verdict. Should the injured not be able to return to work, they can also be awarded the present-day value of future lost wages.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages and compensatory damages are those which apply a monetary value to the pain and suffering experienced. This is determined by a jury.
Though economic and non-economic damages are the most common, the injured may also seek punitive damages.
Punitive Damages
If the construction site was aware of violations and had already been cited for those on multiple occasions, but failed to remedy the issue, leading to the injury of another, punitive damages may be sought. These aim to punish the defendant.