If you’ve been injured through the negligence of another person, you might be wondering how much your personal injury case is worth. There are a lot of factors that determine what your case is worth. It really boils down to the damages you suffered. Here are a few of the types of monetary damages you can claim.
- Medical damages – medical treatment and care.
- Lost income – the impact the accident had on your wages.
- Property loss – damages to your physical property, your car or clothing, for example.
- Pain and suffering – for the amount of pain you endured and may continue to endure.
- Emotional distress – for psychological damages and care, such as anxiety, sleep loss and fear that you suffer after a serious injury.
- Loss of consortium – the effect of your injuries on your spouse or children. These types of damages are often awarded to the spouse, rather than the injured party.
You can certainly calculate medical damages based on the bills you receive, but some types of damages are much less objective. You may need experts to help you calculate the monetary value of your type of pain. No two personal injury cases are alike, which can make it difficult for a layperson to calculate what your case is really worth.
Who Is Liable?
In most personal injury cases, the person who is at fault should pay the injured party’s medical bills and other damages. However, there are a few states that follow a concept known as contributory negligence. If the injured party is partially to blame for the accident, he or she may not be able to collect compensation. In some places, the amount of damages can be reduced if the injured party is partially at fault for the accident. Fault is another aspect of determining what your case is worth.
One More Element in Personal Injury Cases
You should keep in mind that even though you’ve suffered thousands of dollars of damages, you may not be able to collect compensation if the other party doesn’t have any resources. Generally, the negligent party would rely on their insurance policy to pay your personal injury claim. If you cannot collect from the insurance company, you may need to sue the individual for any assets they have.
If you need more information about determining the value of your personal injury claim, it’s a good idea to talk to an accident injury lawyer in Scottsdale, AZ who can help you be more successful in presenting your case and negotiating a fair settlement.
Thanks to Yearin Law Office for their insight into personal injury claims and what your case might be worth.