In the case of a personal injury, it may seem like things are not in your favor. Hospital bills can rack up quickly, not to mention the money you could lose if you’re out of work. However, depending on the nature of your injury, you could be owed some serious cash.
Insurance companies are known for giving people trouble when a payout is due. If someone else was at fault for your injury, and the insurance is complicated, a qualified attorney can help you recover damages. The question is, how much compensation could you receive?
Personal Injury Settlements
The possible compensation amount when settling depends on many things, including medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and more. The range of personal injury case compensation can vary drastically. On average, personal injury case settlements can land between $3,000 and $75,000. Over 70% of personal injury claims get some type of payout.
The severity of your accident will impact the number of damages paid. A broken finger will be considered less severe than an amputated leg and will not be worth as much compensation.
The amount of medical attention required may or may not impact your settlement amount. The insurance company may offer to pay off the hospital directly or give you the funds to pay your bill as you see fit.
Insurance policy limits will also affect any offer you receive from an insurance company, and they will often lowball you at first. If an insurance company thinks you are without legal counsel, the offer will be minimal in hopes you will take the money and run. Hiring a personal injury lawyer to negotiate on your behalf gives you much better odds of receiving maximum compensation.
Personal Injury Lawsuits
Having a personal injury lawyer negotiate and settle on your behalf may be the best route for minor injuries. However, with more severe injuries or obvious negligence cases, you’re more likely to get a handsome payout by taking it to court. A personal injury lawsuit is a civil lawsuit you would file with the court. Even if you don’t get that far, threatening a lawsuit can still increase the amount the opposing side is willing to pay.
Many plaintiffs who file or threaten to file a personal injury lawsuit generally walk away with a much better payout than those who settle. However, this is not always the case, so it’s important to discuss your options with a lawyer.
Compensatory Damages
Before estimating the compensation you’re likely to receive, it’s essential to know how these damages are determined. Intended to compensate the victim for their loss, compensatory damages are divided into two categories; special damages and general damages.
Special Damages
Special damages, also known as economic damages, are intended to repay or cover the cost of expenses related to their injury. Special damages include medical bills, lost wages, property repair or replacement, and any necessary services required while the victim is in recovery. This compensation may not only cover past expenses but estimated future expenses as well.
While this compensation usually does not put any more money in your pocket, it does ease the burden of worrying about paying your bills while recovering from your injury.
General Damages
General, or noneconomic damages, are meant to cover non-physical or impalpable losses.
These can be harder to define but are often worth more than physical losses. Usually, all the money in the world cannot compensate a victim for the trauma some accidents may cause. General damages will offer payment to cover pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, and physical disability or disfigurement.
Conclusion
When it comes to determining the amount of compensation you could receive for your personal injury case, the details are key. Speak with a professional to see if your case is worth settling or suing, and be sure to fight for your rights.
