How much is my personal injury case worth?

The first step in determining a personal injury claim’s worth is defining what type of injury occurred.

Personal injuries can happen from all types of scenarios including negligence, intentional acts, or even defective products. Common injuries and scenarios include:

• Car accidents and automobile collisions
• Product liability (Read: What is product liability?)
• Workplace injuries
• Accidents caused by dangerous premises
• Medical malpractice
• Wrongful deaths

Personal injuries can range from broken bones, concussions, and all the way to catastrophic, life-changing events like traumatic brain injuries.

While that doesn’t mean one shouldn’t pursue a lawyer if they slip and fall on dangerous property, one should be realistic in the amount they think they are entitled to. It should go without saying that a personal injury claim involving a catastrophic injury or even wrongful death is going to yield a higher recovery than a case involving a broken wrist.

Judges and jury will examine things to determine the severity of an injury, like the amount of time spent under medical care, financial impact, and in extreme cases, quality of life after the incident.

If you’re unsure about what your case is worth, seek a free consultation with a personal injury attorney.

Determining if another party was liable for the injury can be contributing factor in the overall recovery received if awarded. Some personal injury cases will typically see a single defendant. This may be a driver that causes an automobile accident or a property owner in a dangerous premise case.

However, some cases may involve multiple liable parties. This can be more common in defective product and product liability cases where the responsibility for the injuries sustained can range from the manufacturer, distributor, and even the retailer.

Multiple liable parties can certainly create a more complex case, but it can be advantageous in the event that not every defendant has sufficient assets or liability insurance coverage to pay the damages in full.

When someone is injured medical bills and expenses will quickly pile up. Depending on how severe the injury sustained was, medical attention may be required for weeks, months, years, or even the rest of the victim’s life.

In the more severe injury cases, this can cause immense financial hardship to families – even causing bankruptcy.

Common medical expenses associated with personal injuries may include:

• Emergency room fees
• Ambulance or other EMT fees
• Prescription medication costs
• Extended hospital stays
• Ongoing therapy and treatment including:
  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Speech therapy
• Home health care costs
• Medical devices

When one suffers a personal injury medical costs are often the first thing that comes to mind. There are other financial hardships to consider:

• Lost Wages
• Loss of future income
• Future medical expenses for ongoing treatment

All of these can be vital in determining the recovery value in a case.

Outside of financial impact, a person that suffers a personal injury may sustain other hardships that can be recovered. This can include:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Property damages

First and foremost, your safety is the most important thing. If you have been in an accident, seek proper medical attention first.

After everything has stabilized, it is your decision whether or not to seek legal representation. Many law firms will provide a free consultation that can help determine if your claims can be recovered and if the case is worth pursuing.

During your case evaluation you may be asked to provide or secure the following:

• Medical records
• Medical expenses
• Proof of lost wages or loss of income
• Photos of the accident or what may have caused the accident
• Witnesses

During the legal process, an experienced personal injury attorney will guide you on whether you are able to settle your case or take it to court.