The value of your personal injury case depends on a number of factors.
As personal injury attorneys, we are frequently asked to put a number value on a particular case. While it may be tempting to provide a number, the reality is that how much a case is worth depends on various factors.
When meeting with clients, we analyze every aspect of their case. Based on a number of factors, we may be able to provide a rough value of how much their case is worth. However, it should be noted that no personal injury attorney can guarantee a result — and that cases can fall apart for any number of reasons. With that in mind, here are the top five factors that influence how much your case may be worth.
How Bad The Accident Was
When it comes to accidents, the worse it appears, the more likely you will be able to recover. While you can be severely injured from what looks like a minor accident and walk away from a major crash without so much as a scratch, perception is often key to how a case is valued.
If your car is totaled, a jury is more likely to decide that you deserve a high level of compensation than if you had a small dent in the bumper. The same is true of other types of accidents; a video of a slip and fall may not be as compelling as one of a whole display of heavy objects falling on a customer would be. An insurance company takes this into account when determining a settlement amount. So the severity of the accident is one of the factors that can impact the value of your case.
The Extent of Injuries
While deep bruises, strained ligaments and other injuries can be quite painful and long-lasting, juries tend to award higher amounts to victims with more severe injuries such as broken bones, head injuries or deep lacerations. While your injuries may put you out of commission for quite some time, they typically are not as highly valued as injuries that appear more significant. The more grave your injuries seem, the greater the value of your case will typically be.
How Much Medical Treatment Was Needed
Medical treatment can be used as proof of the severity of your injuries; if you required a long hospital stay, surgery, or multiple procedures, your injuries may be viewed as much more significant than if you had only gone to the doctor once or twice.
In addition, the amount of medical treatment that you received can be used as a method to determine the level of your pain and suffering. If your injuries required many months of painful surgeries, treatments, or intensive rehabilitation, that would be a strong indication that you had significant pain and suffering. This would then increase the overall value of your case.
The Available Resources
While it may not be pleasant to consider, the amount of available resources will have an impact on how much your case is worth. If the person who caused your injuries has a small insurance policy and limited assets, your case won’t be valued as highly as if the person or business had more insurance coverage. Of course, if your injuries were caused in a car accident, your own insurance could cover your losses through uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
Percentage of Fault
This last factor involves a concept known as comparative liability. It essentially means that if you were partially at fault for the accident, then your recovery could be reduced by that percentage. If you slipped and fell on a crumbling sidewalk, for example, but you were looking at your phone instead of paying attention at the time, then your recovery could be reduced by the percentage that you were at fault. If you were 30% at fault, then a $100,000 award would be reduced to $70,000. Your share of the responsibility for your injuries will have an impact on the total value of the case in that way.
If you’ve been hurt in an accident, contact the seasoned personal injury attorneys at the Law Office of Larry H. Parker. We know how to value cases — and get you the best possible recovery amount. Initial consultations are always free, and we never charge a fee unless we recover money for you. Contact us today at 800-333-0000 or info@larryhparker.com.
