If you were injured due to someone else's actions, you may be wondering how to put a value on your injury case. While people have tried to create a formula in the past based on their medical bills, it simply doesn't work since every case is different. Here are the things to consider to figure out the worth of your personal injury case.
Special Damages
Special damages refer to all of the economic-related damages that should be fully refunded due to your not being at fault. This includes your medical bills, lost wages from missing your job, and any other out-of-pocket expenses. For example, if you need to pay for crutches, medication, or even parking at the doctor's office, this can fall under special damages. It's important that you have all of these costs documented with receipts so that you can present them to an insurance adjuster.
General Damages
General damages are the things that you can't put a dollar amount on because there is not a direct cost, such as emotional trauma or pain and suffering. The question that comes up with general damages is how to measure these things and how much to ask for them. Unfortunately, there is no set formula since it is a sliding scale based on your specific case. You can also be sure that the insurance adjuster is going to value those damages a lot less than you would and potentially offer you less money than you think those damages are worth.
Severity Of Injury
It is a good idea to use the severity of the injury when trying to calculate those general damages. Something such as a sprained body part is going to make the general damages worth less than a broken bone or brain injury. The quantity of medical treatments can also play a factor. If you had a single visit to the doctor to take care of the issue, then you may not get that much money in general damages. However, an injury that required multiple visits to the doctor will be seen as more severe and will increase the general damages you can be awarded.
The permanency of the injury is also very important. Will you end up walking with a limp indefinitely, or is the injury fully healed after a month or two? Do you have a scar that will last for the rest of your life in a place where others will see? That can increase your general damages a lot more than a scar that is hidden.
To learn more, contact a personal injury attorney.
