When an individual is the victim of an accident and sustains an injury, they generally have the right to pursue legal action. A common way of seeking compensation is through filing a personal injury claim with the liable party’s insurance. Determining how much a personal injury claim is worth can be complex. Doing so involves examining every aspect of the situation and evaluating all losses and damages. If you were involved in a collision and require representation during a claim, reach out to a skilled San Mateo County, California motor vehicle accident lawyer today.
What Damages Can I Receive From a Personal Injury Claim?
You can receive both economic and non-economic damages in a personal injury claim. Economic damages are real, tangible losses that occur as a result of the accident and injury. They can include medical expenses, property damage, loss of income, and more.
You can also receive non-economic damages as reimbursement for subjective or non-monetary losses. Non-economic damages you may be entitled to include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, loss of consortium, etc.
How Much is My Personal Injury Claim Worth?
Your personal injury claim is generally worth as much as the sum of your economic and non-economic damages. California state law also allows victims of personal injury accidents to receive punitive damages as a way of further punishing a defendant for extreme recklessness or malicious behavior.
The following factors will impact the amount of money your claim is worth and determine how much you should receive in compensation.
- Your medical expenses: You should be fully reimbursed for your medical bills including ambulance rides, surgeries, prescriptions, treatments, physical therapy, and more. The more severe your injuries are the more money you are likely being charged at the hospital or doctor’s office.
- The severity of the accident: More serious accidents tend to result in higher-valued claims. The injuries and damages resulting from serious accidents tend to be more significant and costly, meaning that the compensation will have to be higher to cover the associated expenses.
- The amount of insurance coverage: You can only be compensated as much as your or the liable party’s insurance will allow. If the policies have limits on them it will impact the amount of money you are eligible to receive.
- Impact on daily life: The more seriously your life has changed as a result of the accident the higher your claim is valued. If you can no longer work in the same capacity, cannot complete simple tasks on your own, and no longer enjoy time and activities with friends and family, your injury has had a serious impact on your life. Your settlement should reflect this influence.
All of the above and more will impact the value of your injury claim. Having a skilled attorney advocating for you can help ensure that your rights are protected and your best interests considered.
