A personal injury can be a distressing experience, often bringing physical, emotional, and financial challenges. The last thing anyone wants is to discover they can’t secure the compensation they deserve.
When pursuing a personal injury claim, a combination of various elements determines your settlement. Providing grounds for each can be difficult, as individuals and companies will do their best to deny or reduce culpability or invalidate your claim. Fortunately, firms like Dozier Law readily offer experts to assist you, ensuring settlements favor you.
This article will guide you through the key factors impacting personal injury compensation, providing illustrative examples and insights into how you and your lawyer can maximize your settlement.
What Are The Crucial Factors For Settlement Calculation?
Depending on the circumstances, these aspects can come into play:
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Severity of Injuries
One of the most significant factors affecting compensation is the severity of your injuries. The more severe the injuries, the higher the potential compensation. For instance, someone who sustains a traumatic brain injury due to a car accident is likelier to receive a more substantial settlement than someone who only experiences minor whiplash.
Consider two individuals who were involved in separate slip and fall accidents. One individual broke a bone, requiring surgery and extensive rehabilitation. Meanwhile, the other suffered minor bruises and was able to recover quickly. The compensation awarded to the first individual would rightfully be significantly higher due to the severity of their injuries.
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Medical Expenses
The medical expenses you incur due to your injuries are crucial in determining your compensation. They include hospital bills, doctor’s fees, prescription medications, rehabilitation costs, and any ongoing medical treatments required.
Imagine a negligent driver hitting a pedestrian, leaving the latter with multiple fractures. The injured pedestrian requires surgery, follow-up appointments, physical therapy, and ongoing pain management. The medical expenses incurred in this case would be substantial and contribute to a higher compensation settlement.
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Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
Compensation also covers income lost due to injuries. Suppose your injuries prevent you from working temporarily or permanently. In that case, you may be entitled to receive compensation for lost wages and even a diminished earning capacity if your ability to earn has been significantly impaired.
Picture a construction worker getting injured on the job due to faulty equipment. The injuries are severe enough to prevent them from returning to their physically demanding work. In addition to the medical expenses, the worker would be eligible for compensation to cover the lost wages and potential future earnings.
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Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering refer to the physical and emotional distress you experience due to the injury. While difficult to quantify, compensation for pain and suffering is often included in settlements.
Suppose a patient undergoes a surgical procedure that goes wrong due to medical negligence. As a result, they experience chronic pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment in life. They find it difficult to return to their routines, causing a severe downturn in their confidence and mental health. The compensation for the pain and suffering they experience should reflect the long-term impact of these non-economic damages.
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Comparative Negligence
In cases where both parties share some degree of fault, the concept of comparative negligence comes into play. Compensation may be adjusted based on the percentage of fault attributed to each party.
In a car accident, the injured driver was determined to be 20% at fault for speeding, while the other was 80% at fault for running a red light. If the total compensation amount is $50,000, the injured driver’s settlement may be reduced to $40,000 to account for their limited culpability.
Some of these factors will hold up more in negotiations if solid arguments are laid down. That makes working with a lawyer from the initial stages of settlement extremely beneficial.
Maximizing Your Settlement: Strategies for Success
Here are some strategies you and your lawyer should employ to provide a strong case for your settlement calculation:
- Gathering Evidence: Ensure that all relevant evidence, including medical records, accident reports, witness statements, and photographs, are collected and documented.
- Calculating All Costs: Account for all present and future costs related to your injury, including medical expenses, lost wages, and potential long-term effects.
- Negotiating Effectively: A skilled personal injury lawyer can negotiate on your behalf with the responsible party’s insurance company, reminding them of the standards and regulations they must follow.
- Demonstrating Impact: Effectively communicate the physical, emotional, and financial impact of the injury on your life. Personal stories and accounts of how the injury has affected your daily life (to which professionals like doctors or your own loved ones can attest) can influence the compensation awarded for pain and suffering.
As mentioned, some entities involved in your compensation claim, such as insurance providers, will try to downplay culpability, nullify your arguments, or cut the amount they pay. These strategies should help you enforce their responsibility, getting you the aid you deserve.
Know Where To Look
Proving the validity of your settlement calculation requires a combination of hard logic, smart thinking, and actionable appeals to empathy. Collaborating with a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer will make this easier for you. Work with one to ensure you get the compensation you need for your losses.
