If you have been injured in an accident, you are probably wondering how much your case is worth. That is one of the most common questions that injury victims have after an accident. After all, you likely have medical bills that are starting to pile up, and you may be missing time from work because of your injuries.
Whether you were involved in a car accident, truck accident, or medical malpractice accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. The amount you can expect to receive depends on several factors. Since no two injuries or cases are the same, the amount of compensation you may receive is also unique to your situation. Dive into all the details below to learn more about how much your case may be worth.
Valuing the Economic Damages in Your Personal Injury Case
Accidents usually have some adverse financial consequences, and you are generally entitled to recoup all of your financial losses. The financial losses associated with your case are known as economic damages. These damages typically have a specific financial value because some bills or receipts show exactly how much they are worth.
When determining the value of your economic damages, you must consider many factors associated with your case. An experienced California personal injury lawyer can help examine all your economic losses to help you determine a fair value for these damages. Some questions that must be answered during this evaluation include:
- What was the total cost of all your medical treatments?
- How long were you out of work?
- Will you be able to return to work?
- Did you require at-home medical care or treatment?
- Did you undergo physical therapy or rehabilitation?
- If you can return to work, will you be able to perform the same type of work that you did before the accident?
- Will you have any permanent effects from your injuries that require ongoing medical care?
- Do you have property damage that must be repaired?
Generally, cases involving more severe injuries will incur more damages and be worth more than cases involving only minor injuries. If you have medical insurance that paid for some of your treatments, your insurance company may be entitled to repayment through a legal doctrine known as subrogation. An experienced lawyer may be able to negotiate the subrogation amounts with the insurance company so that you get more money in your pocket.
How to Value Your Non-Economic Damages
Financial losses are not the only damages you may suffer after an accident. Non-economic damages are almost always present after an injury, and these damages can often be worth more than your financial losses.
Non-economic damages are those that compensate you for your physical and emotional pain and suffering. These damages can be harder to value since they are intangible and more subjective.
The most common method of calculation for non-economic damages is known as the multiplier method. Using this method, a multiplier from 1.5 to 5 is assigned to your case based on the severity of your injuries. A multiplier of 5 is usually reserved for cases involving catastrophic injuries.
The economic damages in the case are then multiplied by the multiplier to estimate the non-economic damages in the case. While the unique facts of your case will ultimately determine its value, the multiplier method can be a great way to estimate your non-economic damages.
How an Experienced California Personal Injury Attorney Can Help
Even though you may be entitled to recover compensation for all your damages, the insurance company will not make it easy. They may try to minimize your injuries or even blame you for the accident to try and avoid paying your claim.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can help ensure the insurance company does not take advantage of you and can help maximize the value of your claim. Some ways a lawyer can help maximize your claim’s value include:
- Thoroughly investigating your accident to determine who was at fault and who should be held responsible
- Assessing all the potential insurance coverage for your claim to identify all potential sources of compensation
- Gathering evidence and utilizing experts as necessary to help prove your case
- Working with your medical providers and other medical experts to fully tell your story and understand the extent of your injuries
- Aggressively negotiating a settlement that fairly compensates you for all your damages
- Filing a lawsuit and fighting for you in court when the insurance company is unwilling to make a fair settlement offer
Don’t let the insurance company take advantage of you with a lowball settlement offer. Seek the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help you get the justice you deserve.
What if I’m Being Blamed For My Accident?
A common tactic the insurance company uses after an accident is to blame the victim. Thankfully, you may still be able to recover some damages even if you are being blamed. California follows a pure comparative negligence rule for most personal injury cases.
Under California’s rule, a victim may still recover damages even if they are found to be partially responsible for their accident. Their portion of the fault will simply reduce their recovery. Consider the following example.
Imagine you were injured in a car accident and sustained $20,000 in total damages. It was found that you are 30% responsible for the accident. You would still be entitled to recover $14,000, or 70%, of your damages from the other responsible party.
Contact a California Personal Injury Attorney For a Free Consultation
If you have been hurt in an accident in California, you need an experienced attorney who knows how to get you the compensation to which you are entitled. The team at The Simon Law Group has over 250 years of combined experience fighting for the rights of injury victims.
Contact us today at (424) 622-0812 for a free consultation and learn more about how we can help you with your personal injury claim. You do not have to go through this alone, so give us a call today and let us get started working for you.
