One of the first things you may want to ask your attorney when you file a personal injury law suit is ‘How much is my case worth?’ A personal injury lawsuit is usually filed when all negotiation attempts have failed to satisfy the compensation of money for your injury. Every case is unique and there is no way to tell exactly what the value of your compensation will be until your injury case is evaluated completely. Values on cases vary greatly from person to person because there are several things to consider about the nature of the injury. The severity of the injury, the cause of the injury and determining the liability aspect of the case can be complicated. Here are 4 factors that can determine the value of your case.
- Medical Bills
Any medical costs for treatment immediately following your injury as well as future medical costs will be evaluated for compensation. If you are unable to reach your pre-injury health status and will likely face future medical attention, this will factor into the compensation demand for your case
- Lost Wages
If you lose wages or benefits because of your injury, you are due the compensation that covers that and any future earnings you may lose because of your injury.
- Pain and Suffering
You should be compensated for the pain and suffering you have gone through from the injury itself but also from the emotional pain and suffering the injury has caused. Your life has changed dramatically since the injury and it can lead to depression and anxiety that may be long lasting.
- Loss of Consortium
If you are married your spouse may have suffered because of your personal injury. The loss of your wages, the stress of your recovery and treatments all affect the companionship of you and your spouse. This loss may extend into the future and your spouse may receive compensation for this.
Your attorney may have a good idea of approximately what your case is worth but it will take a full evaluation and time to arrive at the true value. You may want to settle for less to shorten the length of time it takes to determine this value. Remember, your personal injury lawsuit is a one- time settlement and you should account for all of the damages both past and future.
