Quantifying Your Compensation Needs When Filing a Personal Injury Case
Did you know that between 300,000 and 500,000 personal injury lawsuits are filed each year? Some of these cases are very lucrative, while others bring in almost no money. There are so many factors that affect the size of the judgment. Keep reading to learn more.
How Much Can a Personal Injury Case Be Worth?
After a devastating accident, you may be dealing with severe injuries that prevent you from living a normal life. If your injuries are due to another’s negligence, you can seek compensation from them with the help of a personal injury attorney.
Every personal injury claim is unique, so you will need the help of an attorney to accurately estimate your damages for you. The more heinous your wounds, the higher the settlement award will be. You might be able to expedite your recovery by following the right practices, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t deserve compensation.
Additionally, if the other party was entirely at fault and you played no part in your injuries, you can expect maximum compensation. Personal injury attorney Pendergrass can explain how this works, as they are the ones that will estimate your damages for you.
Personal Injury Economic Damages
Economic damages specifically refer to struggling with fees that result in out-of-pocket costs; these include the following:
Medical Bills
After a terrible injury, you will likely be paying for expensive medical treatment required to help you recover. These costs may not be only one-time and can continue for a long time depending on the type of treatment being implemented. For example, you may require chiropractic and physical therapy for several months. In other cases, you may have to take medication for an extended period of time. Any medical treatment you received caused by your personal injury can be included in your compensation.
Lost Wages
There are many types of personal injury cases that allow you to seek compensation. Some of them involve lost wages.
While you are overcoming your wounds, it may be required for you to take time off from work. Mainly, this can be because your injuries prevent you from performing normal work tasks. The income you lose because of your injuries can be included in your personal injury settlement. This means lost wages that you were unable to receive in the past and future.
Property Damage
In some personal injury cases, you may have suffered from property damage where items of value, your home, or a vehicle were destroyed due to your personal injury accident. For example, when you get into a car crash, you may seek compensation for the value of your car or how much it costs to replace it if the expenses exceed that included in your insurance policy.
Funeral Costs
In the case of wrongful death, loved ones will be able to seek compensation on behalf of the deceased family member. They may be dealing with expensive funeral bills, such as the cost of the burial, the coffin or urn, the embalming or cremation, the service, flowers, and other details necessary for the funeral. These funeral costs can also be included and help alleviate some of the burden placed on the surviving family members.
Personal Injury Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are calculated differently from economic damages and aren’t just added up using receipts or invoices.
Pain And Suffering Damages
Non-economic damages make up most of the settlement award and are entirely based upon the pain and suffering experienced by you. Pain and suffering refer to the emotional turmoil you experienced due to a personal injury accident. You may be struggling with depression, anxiety, grief, PTSD, shame, embarrassment, low-self esteem, and many other dark emotions. They can affect your quality of life and make it difficult for you to participate in normal activities you once enjoyed. If your injuries make you feel extreme sadness that deeply impacts your life, you can seek damages for pain and suffering.
Pain and suffering are estimated using a multiplier, a number based on the severity of your wounds. This number, between one and seven or higher, is selected and then multiplied by the total economic damages you received. This amount is then added to the total economic damages to estimate your settlement award. Your attorney will seek the help of an insurer to calculate pain and suffering accurately.
Non-Economic Wrongful Death Damages
If you are a family member seeking compensation on behalf of a family member, you may be seeking damages for the loss of consortium, loss of valuable services, loss of earning capacity, loss of guardianship, and many more damages resulting from the victim’s death. There are many wrongful death damages you can claim with the help of an attorney.
What Are My Next Steps With A Personal Injury Attorney?
With the help of a personal injury attorney, you can receive the most accurate estimate for damages based on the evidence provided and how extensive your injuries were. They may notice certain aspects about your case that you never noticed that increase your award amount, which is why with their counsel, you can expect maximum compensation for your wounds. There is no average settlement for a personal injury case because they are all treated differently based on their situation. To find out more, speak with an attorney today to get guidance on your next steps.
