If you have been injured in a car accident, workplace accident, or any other type of accident, you may be wondering whether you have a right to compensation. Under Alabama law, personal injury victims have a right to hold the person or company who acted negligently accountable for their negligence through a lawsuit. Successful plaintiffs are entitled to damages for their financial losses, property damage, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. It is impossible to predict precisely how much your claim is worth, but several factors will impact the value of your claim.
Factors That Impact The Value of Personal Injury Claims
Every personal injury claim is unique. There are different parties involved, the type of claim is different, and the extent and severity of the victim’s injuries are different. The facts of your unique case are just some of the factors that could impact how much your personal injury claim is worth. The best way to value your claim is to discuss your case with an experienced lawyer.
Your lawyer will analyze all the factors in your case to determine how they will affect the total amount of money you may be able to receive. While your lawyer will not be able to predict precisely how much money you will receive, they can give you a ballpark idea of how much your claim is worth. The following factors will influence how much your claim is worth.
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The Severity of Your Injury
In Alabama, plaintiffs are entitled to economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover the financial cost that can be easily quantified, such as medical expenses and lost income. Non-economic damages cover harder-to-quantify injuries, such as physical pain, emotional distress, and mental trauma.
Typically, the more severe injuries, the higher the value of your claim. The severity of your injuries will impact the financial losses of the victim assistance. For example, the more serious the injury, the more medical treatment, and surgeries the victim will need. As the cost of medical treatment is currently so high, medical expenses will quickly add up for those with severe physical injuries. The more severe the injury, the longer the victim will need to take time off of work, making them unable to earn an income. Economic or financial damages, include, but are not limited to:
- Medical bills
- Loss of income
- Travel expenses
- Medication and medical equipment
- Cost of personal care
- Help with household chores
- Physical and emotional therapy
- Property damage
Your Mental Pain and Suffering
Typically, the more severe injuries, the higher the value of your claim. The severity of your injuries will impact the financial losses of the victim assistance. For example, the more serious the injury, the more medical treatment, and surgeries the victim will need.
Typically, the more severe injuries, the higher the value of your claim. The severity of your injuries will impact the financial losses of the victim assistance. For example, the more serious the injury, the more medical treatment, and surgeries the victim will need. When a victim experiences catastrophic injuries that require an extensive recovery time, they will likely suffer more non-economic damages due to the pain and emotional trauma of recovery.
Sometimes lawyers and insurance adjusters will use a multiplier of per diem to calculate the value of pain and suffering damages. The more severe the injury, the higher the multiplier or per diem. Non-economic damages are valued by multiplying a person’s non-economic or financial damages by the multiplier. The per diem value can be calculated by multiplying the number of days between the accident and when the patient is released from medical care by the per diem.
Whether You Sustained a Permanent Impairment
When a victim sustains a permanent disability or impairment, they will be entitled to additional compensation. In Alabama, victims of permanent impairment can receive compensation for scarring and disfigurement, physical pain, loss of enjoyment or quality of life, decreased earning potential, and future loss of income. The plaintiff will also recover compensation for ongoing medical and personal care and any modifications to vehicles are home they need to accommodate the disability.
Discuss Your Case With an Experienced Lawyer
Many different factors contribute to the value of your personal injury claim. If you are curious about how much your claim is worth, we recommend discussing your case with one of our skilled Alabama personal injury lawyers. Contact Heninger Garrison Davis today to schedule your free initial consultation.
