How Much Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?

No matter what kind of personal injury accident you’ve endured, you can pursue financial compensation. A personal injury lawsuit allows you to seek recovery for the damages you’ve endured from a negligent party’s actions.

If you’re wondering how much you could receive, you’re not alone. Many injury victims are interested in learning how much their personal injury case is worth. However, it’s important to understand what factors can impact the worth of your case.

Economic Damages

One of the first things to consider when determining the worth of your personal injury case is the total amount of your economic damages. These are the types of losses you’ve incurred from your personal injury that can be tallied up to the exact dollar amount.

Your economic damages will include your medical bills, but it may not stop there. You may require ongoing treatment, specialized medical equipment or devices, or even medical modifications for your home. If the doctors can show that you need these things, the worth of your case will be higher.

Additionally, lost wages are part of your economic damages. If your injuries have rendered you unable to work, you can make up for this lost income. In cases where injuries reduce your earning capacity in the future, you can also calculate this lost earning potential into your damages.

Non-Economic Damages

Many people who try to negotiate their own injury claims do not realize that they can seek non-economic damages. These might be more challenging to prove, though evidence can help you show these intangible losses.

Non-economic damages tend to include reimbursement for loss of enjoyment of life, mental anguish, permanent disfigurement, and pain and suffering. Working with a lawyer is strongly encouraged when you have suffered extensive injuries that have diminished the quality of your life. With an attorney, you will have someone advocating for your legal rights and fighting for what is fair.

It is important to keep in mind that both economic and non-economic damages depend on the severity of your injuries. For example, a person who breaks their leg in a car crash and is expected to make a full recovery will be awarded less than someone who becomes permanently paralyzed in a truck accident.

The Rule of Comparative Negligence and Its Impact on Personal Injury Cases

In addition to the severity and permanence of your injuries, it is vital to consider comparative negligence in Illinois. Here, modified comparative negligence is applied in personal injury cases. Simply put, it means that even as the injury victim, you may be partially at fault for your injuries.

This is done as a percentage that would be taken out of your overall compensation awards. You must be less than 50% at fault to recover anything. If you are found to be more than 50% liable, you will be barred from collecting any compensation.

The at-fault party’s insurer will be looking for ways to ensure you get a higher percentage to either reduce or bar your compensation recovery. Working with an injury lawyer can help you fight these tactics to get what you deserve.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes