How much can I get out of my personal injury case?

Following your serious car accident, you need significant compensation to pay for your medical care and to offset your lost wages. Recovering that money will likely require legal action.

While most personal injury cases end up settling before ever heading to trial, it can be difficult to figure out which direction to take your case if you don’t know what your claim is worth. So, let’s take a closer look at how you can analyze your circumstances to determine the value of your personal injury case.

Calculating damages in your personal injury lawsuit

There are several types of damages that you can pursue in your personal injury case. The first is economic damages. These are losses that involve the expenditure of funds or lost income. To figure out your economic damages, you should gather all accident-related bills, including those pertaining to your medical care, as well as your pay stubs before and after the accident. This will help you calculate what you’ve already lost.

But you also have to pay attention to your anticipated economic losses. These are damages that have yet to be incurred but will be taken on as time moves on. So, once you know the extent of your injuries and how long they’ll require care and treatment, as well as how long they’ll knock you out of work, you’ll have a better idea of what your anticipated economic damages will look like.

What about non-economic damages?

These losses are important and can make up a significant portion of your personal injury judgment. Non-economic losses are those that are challenging to put a number on but have a direct impact on how you live your life. Pain and suffering, mental anguish, and disfigurement are examples of non-economic damages.

Given that these losses can be difficult to prove, you’ll want to gather evidence that paints a clear picture for the jury. Keeping a journal of how your injuries have negatively impacted your daily living can be powerful here, as can your own testimony as well as testimony from family members and friends who have seen how your injuries have impacted you. Be thorough, as you want to be as persuasive as possible.

How negotiations come into play

Although you might have an ideal figure in mind when you approach your personal injury case, you should keep in mind that resolving your case through negotiations may mean that you have to compromise.

The hope, of course, is that you’ll walk away with what you need and deserve, but you have to conduct a risk analysis when you consider whether you should take your case to trial. So, before sitting down at the negotiation table, think through what kind of recovery would be acceptable and how much you’re willing to risk by taking your case to trial if you can’t obtain the settlement you want.

Aggressively advocate for what you deserve

A poor outcome in a personal injury case can leave you without the resources you need to further your recovery and remain financially stable. Therefore, you have to head into your case fully prepared to advocate for what you deserve. If that has you feeling uneasy, don’t worry. You can find information, guidance, and support as you navigate the personal injury process. By being well prepared, you’ll hopefully obtain accountability, recover the compensation you need, and protect your future.