A successful car accident claim in Columbia can include compensation for: all medical expenses past, present, and future; lost wages and diminished earning capacity; property damage; physical pain and suffering; emotional distress; and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases involving particularly reckless conduct, such as a drunk driver or someone who fled the scene, you may also be entitled to punitive damages, which are designed to punish the wrongdoer beyond simple compensation. An attorney will calculate the full value of your claim so that no loss goes uncompensated.