Two different types of compensatory damages can be awarded in a personal injury lawsuit in Vegas: economic and non-economic. Each type of award is designed to alleviate different costs and consequences associated with a car accident, a slip and fall, injuries caused by a defective product, or injuries caused by some other type of avoidable injury. In rare instances, punitive damages can also be awarded to punish egregious behavior.
The insurance company will work hard to downplay your injuries, undervalue your struggles, and ultimately minimize the damages you’re awarded in a settlement. Working with an experienced Nevada personal injury attorney at Benson & Bingham can protect you from the insurance company’s tactics and help you maximize your recovery.
What Are Economic Damages?
Getting into an accident can create a financial nightmare that you shouldn’t have to deal with when someone else is at fault. The plaintiff in an accident claim in Vegas can file a claim demanding economic damages to offset the verifiable monetary costs and burdens associated with an accident.
Economic damages can include past, present, and future compensation for:
- Emergency room care, surgery, hospitalization, specialist consultations, follow-up care, medication, prosthetics, medical devices, and other medical bills
- Rehabilitation and therapy services
- Lost wages and job benefits
- Temporary and/or short-term disability
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Nursing care and assistance
- Funeral expenses if an accident is fatal
There is no cap on economic damages in Nevada. They can be awarded without limit as long as there are records, receipts, invoices, and bills to support the request.
What Are Non-Economic Damages?
Not all consequences of being in an accident have a direct financial cost. The costs of a crash can take a physical, emotional, and social toll on a person as well. Just because these don’t have a set monetary value doesn’t mean they have less of an impact on a person’s life or are less worthy of compensation. Non-economic damages are designed to acknowledge these types of subjective consequences and help victims cope.
Non-economic damages are often awarded for things like:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Emotional distress
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Inconvenience
- Chronic physical pain
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
Since these consequences are much more difficult to value, they’re often the source of disputes between insurance adjusters and claimants. Insurance companies have software and algorithms to drive conversations about value, but it’s important that you don’t let the adjuster dictate the terms of your recovery. Having an experienced personal injury attorney involved in your case can help you understand the value of your case, facilitate more honest and transparent negotiations, and ultimately lead to better case results when your claim is resolved.
Nevada doesn’t apply a cap on non-economic damages in most personal injury cases. There is one exception: medical malpractice cases under NRS Section 41A.035. For medical malpractice cases filed in 2026, the cap on non-economic awards is $590,000. The ceiling increases by $80,000 each year.
Benson & Bingham Can Help You Maximize Your Damages After a Nevada Accident
Don’t leave conversations about damages up to chance. Benson & Bingham’s Nevada personal injury attorneys have helped clients across the state recover $600+ million in settlements and jury awards. We can help you recover maximum damages after your recent accident in Nevada, too. Contact our Las Vegas or Reno law office to discuss the details of your case today. Your first consultation is free.