Damages Calculation – Simple Steps to Figure Out Your Compensation

Got hurt or suffered a loss and wonder how much money you can claim? The answer isn’t magic – it’s a mix of bills, lost earnings, and the pain you felt. Below you’ll find a quick, no‑jargon roadmap that works for most Indian personal injury and civil cases.

Break Down the Types of Damages

First, split damages into two buckets: economic and non‑economic. Economic damages are easy to tally – hospital invoices, medicine receipts, repair bills, and the salary you missed while you were recovering. Non‑economic damages cover pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment, and emotional distress. While you can’t print a receipt for these, courts look at factors like injury severity, age, and impact on daily life.

Example: If you broke a wrist in a car accident, your economic claim might be ₹50,000 for treatment and ₹30,000 for the week you couldn’t work. Your non‑economic claim could add another ₹70,000‑₹1,00,000 depending on how much the injury limits your hobbies and routine.

Gather the Right Evidence

The court pays for proof, not just pain. Collect every document that backs up your numbers: medical reports, doctor notes, physiotherapy schedules, salary slips, and tax returns that show your earnings before the incident. Take photos of injuries, damaged property, and the accident scene. If coworkers or friends witnessed the impact on your life, get written statements. This checklist will make your claim look solid and keep the lawyer’s job easier.

Don’t forget future losses. If the injury will need long‑term care or affect your ability to earn, ask a medical expert to write a prognosis. That report becomes a key piece for calculating future economic damages.

Now, plug everything into a simple spreadsheet. List each cost, add them up, and then apply a multiplier for non‑economic damages. In India, multipliers usually range from 1.5 to 5, based on injury seriousness. For a moderate injury, a 2‑times multiplier is common.

So if your total economic losses are ₹80,000, a 2‑times multiplier adds ₹80,000 for pain and suffering, giving you a total claim of ₹1,60,000. Adjust the multiplier up or down depending on how the injury changed your life.

Finally, remember negotiation matters. Many cases settle before hitting court, and insurers often aim for a lower figure. Armed with clear numbers and solid evidence, you can push for a fair settlement that reflects both your bills and the hardship you endured.

Bottom line: calculate every dollar you lost, document it, add a reasonable multiplier for pain, and you’ll have a realistic damages figure ready for your lawyer or the court.