How Much is a Personal Injury Case Worth?

In all 50 states, people who are injured by the negligence of others are able to recover compensation for their accident-related losses. If you have been hurt in a car wreck, slip and fall accident, bicycle accident, incident involving a defective product, or any other preventable accident, you may be wondering how much your case may be worth.

The amount you will be able to recover can depend on a number of factors, including the nature and severity of your injuries, your occupation, your age, whether your own negligence contributed to your accident, and the policy limits of the at-fault party’s insurance policy.

Taking a look at the types of damages available in personal injury cases can help you understand how much you may be able to recover. For more information about your specific situation, you should contact an experienced attorney near you.

Compensatory Damages       

Compensatory damages are damages that are intended to compensate victims for the losses they incurred as a result of their accident. Compensatory damages can be either economic or non-economic. Economic damages compensate victims for their financial losses – things like medical expenses, repair bills, or lost income. On the other hand, non-economic damages compensate victims for losses that are not financial in nature. Common examples of non-economic damages include physical and emotional pain and suffering, lost quality of life, or loss of consortium.

Punitive Damages

In some cases, punitive damages may be available. Rather than compensating the victim for his or her losses, punitive damages are intended to punish the at-fault party for particularly egregious conduct and to deter others from engaging in similar conduct in the future. In many cases, punitive damages are levied against large companies who would not be affected by the damages involved in a typical personal injury claim brought by an injured individual. For this reason, when awarded, punitive damages often far exceed compensatory damages and can often be well into the millions of dollars.

Your Own Negligence Can Affect Your Claim

If a victim’s own negligence played a role in the accident, it can affect the amount of compensation he or she can recover. Under a legal doctrine of comparative negligence, a victim’s recovery can be reduced by his or her percentage of fault. So, a plaintiff who is 20 percent at fault will only recover 80 percent of his or her damages. In most states, a victim is completely barred from recovery only if his or her negligence exceeded that of the defendant. In a few states, a victim is completely barred from recovery if he or she was just one percent at fault for the accident.

Injured? Connect with a Personal Injury Attorney in Your Jurisdiction Today

If I have been injured in an accident I believe was caused by the negligence of someone else, I should contact an attorney near me as soon as you can. A lawyer will be able to evaluate your case, determine whether you have a claim, and help you recover any compensation to which you are entitled under the law.