No attorney can guarantee you a settlement value for your personal injury claim. There are many variables that determine the outcome of a final settlement for a personal injury claim and every case is unique. However, an experienced attorney can help you estimate your claim value based on past experience and the individual considerations of your claim.
What Determines The Value Of My Claim?
There are two main types of damages your injury claim can seek: economic and non-economic damages. Your attorney can help you gather evidence to prove your financial damages, and fight on your behalf for your non-economic losses.
If you’re dealing strictly with an insurance company settlement, the insurance adjuster will be collecting and evaluating your claim evidence. The company will offer a settlement based on the insurance policy limits. If your attorney advises you to advance your injury claim to a lawsuit, a judge and jury will assess the evidence and render a final verdict and settlement amount.
Economic Damages
Economic damages in an injury claim are those damages that can be proven with official documentation such as bills and statements. The following are types of common economic damages:
- Lost wages resulting from your injuries;
- Medical expenses resulting from the accident; and
- Property damages.
All of these damages are tangible amounts and can also be estimated for the future. Many claims that have a victim who suffered a disabling injury or wrongful death will account for future lost wages and/or future medical expenses.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are commonly known as “pain and suffering” in a personal injury claim. This is compensation for the mental anguish, emotional trauma and stress that you and your family will be dealing with after a serious accident. It also accounts for loss of quality/enjoyment of life in the event your injuries led to permanent disability/disfigurement or fatality.
By examining the results of cases similar to yours, as well as taking into account your own economic losses eligible for compensation, your attorney can provide a basic estimation for your claim value. You should never consider this estimate as a settlement amount until it is offered to you on paper. Many clients make the mistake of counting on an estimated value prior to settlement, only to find their offer amount different from what they expected.
After a serious accident, you should be able to spend your time focusing on your recovery; not dealing with insurance adjustors, never-ending paperwork and complicated legalese. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.