What Is My Personal Injury Lawsuit Worth?
It depends… things such as the severity of the injuries, the ability to recover from the injuries, the nature of the event that caused the injuries to occur, the impact and residual effect from the injuries themselves, and the party liable for causing the injuries can all impact the potential lawsuit or settlement amount.
According to a poll conducted by Martindale-Hubbell, those surveyed reported receiving personal injury payouts worth the following amounts…
- 16% received less than $3,000
- 37% received $3k – $10k
- 21% received $10k – $25k
- 10% received $25k – $75k
- 16% received more than $75k
While this information may be helpful, please keep in mind that no personal injury lawyer can tell for sure how much a particular case is worth. Unfortunately, that’s just the truth of the matter and our injury attorneys prefer to be honest and up front about it. There is no way to say how much a potential case is worth without knowing all of the details.
If you would like to speak with an attorney regarding how much your case might be worth or any other questions, please feel free to call the Hoffman DiMuzio personal injury attorneys at any time by dialing 856.637.3000.
Why Is It So Hard To Say For Sure?
The reason is that each and every case is extremely unique. Even the best personal injury attorneys in NJ with the most extensive experience would be hard pressed to give even just a ballpark estimate.
The injury attorneys at Hoffman DiMuzio for example work extremely closely with injured clients to uncover all the facts of their case before even venturing into discussions regarding a possible settlement or verdict amount. There are countless factors at play. Before getting into what your case is worth, the Hoffman DiMuzio personal injury team must professionally analyze your unique situation and examine all the facts of the case. Then, and only then, can an expert injury attorney begin to discuss possible lawsuit amounts.
What Affects The Payout Amount?
A few common things that go into determining how much a personal injury lawsuit are:
- The nature and severity of the injuries
- The ability to recover from the injuries
- Medical bills and other injury-related expenses
- Lost income and/or the ability to return to work
- The parties held liable for the injuries
- Having the best personal injury lawyer possible
The nature and severity of the injuries
As you might imagine, the extent of the injuries sustained is an important factor in determining how much a personal injury lawsuit is worth. There are some insurance companies that are known for setting standard payouts for particular injury types. Other insurance companies allow their adjusters to determine a settlement amount. Either way, the severity of the injury often plays a big role in determining what you are likely to receive.
The ability to recover from the injuries
An injury that you are likely to make a full recovery from often brings a lesser trial or settlement amount. Conversely, if the injuries a client has sustained are found to be lifelong, such as irreversible brain damage, paralysis, loss of a limb, etc., the value of the case is typically much higher.
Medical bills and other injury-related expenses
Medical bills used to treat your injuries must be weighed as well. These can include bills for emergency room visits, doctors’ visits, rehabilitation and therapy, bills from needing to see medical specialists, the cost of a trip in an ambulance and in severe cases, the cost of needing to be airlifted to a hospital for emergency treatment.
In addition to these expenses, it is also possible for a good personal injury lawyer to estimate the amount of medical bills that will be required in the future. If you will require ongoing medical treatment, the cost for such treatment can also affect what your personal injury case is worth. Generally speaking, the more treatment that is required means an injury case could be worth more.
Lost income and/or the inability to return to work
If you are unable to work as a result of your injuries, you may be compensated as result. If you are found to be permanently disabled and unable to ever return to work, there are calculations that can be done by a personal injury lawyer to make sure you are compensated for your future lost earnings.
The parties held liable for the injury that occurred
It is important for your attorney to be able to name all parties that could be considered at fault for your accident. If you fail to name all of the parties that could be found liable, there is a chance that your case value could be lowered or diminished entirely.
The willingness of both parties to settle vs go to trial
Generally speaking, there will come a time where the party(ies) named in the injury lawsuit will offer a pre-trial settlement amount. The amounts will vary and some offers are much higher or lower than others. The decision is yours to make in conjunction with your attorney’s recommendation. There are times when it may be in your best interest to accept a pre-trial settlement if the amount is deemed fair and reasonable. In other instances, it may be best to push for a trial. Generally speaking, the average payout of a successful trial is higher than the insurance company’s settlement offer, although there are no guarantees that a trial will be successful.
Having the best personal injury lawyer possible
As you might expect, having the best personal injury lawyer possible can greatly impact the chances of getting a higher settlement or verdict. As an example, according to a personal injury survey conducted by Martindale-Hubbell, those who had hired a personal injury lawyer received an average of $60,000 more in settlements or awards.
Not only is simply hiring a lawyer a good idea in most cases where you are injured but hiring the best one possible is key to making sure you maximize your case value when seeking just compensation for your injuries.