If you contracted a sexually transmitted disease, you may have the legal right to compensation for your losses if the other person knew or should have known about their condition and yet failed to inform you. In such situations, one of the first questions we hear as STD injury attorneys is: how much money can I receive if I file a legal claim? The answer to this question varies widely from case to case, depending on the damages1 that are at issue in each individual case.
What are damages?
The legal term “damages” refers to the amount of money that you can be awarded for the losses you suffered as a result of your injury. There are several different types of losses that an STD victim may suffer, including the following:
- Medical bills – The costs of diagnosing and treating a sexually transmitted disease can be high. In addition, many STDs cannot be cured and, therefore, a victim must continue treatment possibly throughout their entire life. This includes monitoring their condition, taking preventative medication, and treatment for outbreaks and symptoms.
- Lost income – Many STD-related symptoms2 and infections can make sufferers feel extremely ill or can cause serious pain, which can make it difficult or impossible for a sufferer to go to work as usual. This can result in lost income and benefits and may cause other financial problems. Additionally, an STD victim may miss work every time they have a flare-up in the future.
- Physical pain and suffering – The symptoms of many STDs can cause severe physical pain for sufferers. Though this type of loss is not economic and is not automatically quantifiable, victims still have the right to receive compensation for the physical pain and suffering they experience.
- Emotional distress – STDs can understandably cause emotional issues in many victims due to their pain, the effects on future romantic relationships, and much more. Like pain and suffering, emotional distress is a noneconomic damage.
- Permanent injuries – If an STD caused you permanent damage such as infertility, you deserve to be compensated for these injuries, as well.
Calculating these damages—especially for future losses and for noneconomic losses—can be complicated. You should always have the assistance of an attorney who understands how to determine the full value of your case.
Discuss a possible case with a Michigan sexually transmitted disease lawyer today
At The Stroble Law Firm, P.C., we understand that contracting an STD can cause both physical and emotional injuries on top of your financial losses. If you have an STD because someone else failed to disclose their condition to you, you deserve to recover for all of your relevant losses. While not everyone with an STD has a viable legal claim against the individual who passed it to them, many STD victims are able to recover in court. In a free, confidential consultation, we will listen to the circumstances of your case and advise you of your legal rights and options. Please do not hesitate to call one of our Michigan STD attorneys at 888-454-0801 for help today.
References:
1https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/damages
2http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sexually-transmitted-diseases-stds/in-depth/std-symptoms/art-20047081