How Much is My Personal Injury Case Worth?

If you are debating filing a personal injury lawsuit, one question you might have is, “What exactly is my case worth?” While the amount can vary widely between cases, the exact amount of damages that a person can expect to be awarded depends on the severity of the injuries suffered and the circumstances of the accident.

In a personal injury case, monetary compensation is paid to an injured person by a company or individual who is found to be responsible for the accident. A damages award is provided after a negotiated settlement or can be determined by a judge or jury ruling after a trial.

The Nature of Compensatory Damage

Some personal injury damages are compensatory, which means that they exist to compensate the accident victim for the damages that resulted from the accident. Some types of damages are much easier to calculate than others. While it is easy to determine the amount of a person’s medical bills, it can much more challenging to place a dollar sign on emotional damages like pain and suffering.

Some of the types of compensatory damages that are often award in personal injury cases include:

• Lost wages. Accident victims are entitled to compensation for income that was lost as a result of damage caused by the accident.
• Medical bills. Damages in this area are designed to provide an accident victim compensation for expenses for medical treatment. This can include medical care that has already been provided as well as treatment that will be required in the future.
• Pain and suffering. This category includes compensation for any pain or discomfort that a person faced as a result of an accident. It can also include any physical pain that a person might experience in the future. In some cases, this category can also include emotional suffering such as anxiety and loss of sleep caused by an accident.
• Property loss. If any personal property was damaged as a result of an accident, the accident victim can receive compensation for repairs to this property.

Punitive Damages

In some personal injury cases, when the party responsible for the accident was particularly careless or reckless, punitive damages are awarded. The category of punitive damages is different from compensatory damages and is designed to punish the party responsible for the accident. Punitive damages are meant to deter the responsible party from causing a similar accident in the future.

Geographic Location of the Accident

Some locations of the country have historically higher jury awards than others.  As such, where an accident occurs also impacts the value of a case.  If you are injured in a jurisdiction known to have high jury verdicts this may help you settle your claim for a higher amount.  Conversely, if you are injured in an area known for less than favorable verdicts the opposing side may feel they have less risk of a big verdict and may be willing to pay less to settle a case.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one is harmed in a car accident or other type of accident, you should not hesitate to contact an experienced personal injury attorney. At Kruger & Hodges, we understand just how serious an accident and its resulting injuries can be, which is why we will fight for the results that you deserve. Contact our law office today to schedule an initial free case evaluation.