How Much is My Personal Injury Case Worth?

How Much is My Personal Injury Case Worth?

After an accident, you may wonder how much your personal injury claim is worth. Whomever hurt you should be held responsible and accountable for your harms and losses. They, or more likely their insurance company, will have to pay the value our community would place on your harms and losses. An injury accident attorney in San Jose may be able to give you a rough estimate, but oftentimes only time will tell the amount you might receive from winning a personal injury lawsuit. You should not be the only one to bear those losses. A good lawyer can give you a quick rundown of some of the factors involved when valuing a personal injury claim. The value of your claim is proportional to the extent of the harm and losses you incurred — what your injuries have cost your monetarily, physically and mentally. You may receive economic and non-economic compensatory damages, including monetary compensation for:

• Medical expenses. While treating your injuries, you may incur bills for hospital stays, doctors' visits, medical devices, prescription medication, physical therapy, etc.
• Lost wages. Many people injured in accidents are unable to work while recovering from their injuries. A permanent loss of bodily function may also affect your future earning capacity which you may also include in your lawsuit.
• Damaged property. An accident might have caused substantial property damage or loss.
• Pain and suffering. You should be able to recover money for your past, present and future physical pain and suffering related to your injuries.
• Emotional distress. Particularly traumatic events leave physical as well as emotional scars. Accidents and injuries also commonly disrupt peoples' lives, causing inconvenience, anxiety, depression, withdrawal and other unpleasant emotions.
• Loss of enjoyment. Your injuries may prevent you from engaging in hobbies, sports, exercise and other recreational activities. They may also affect your time, activities and relationships with family and friends.
• Loss of consortium. If your injuries inhibit your ability to perform household chores, clean, provide emotional support and sexual services to your spouse, your spouse may be able to collect compensation for loss of consortium (or the impact your injuries have had on your marital relationship).

In certain cases, you may also be able to claim and prove punitive damages — money awarded against a defendant for the purpose of punishing it for conduct that is deemed particularly reckless, malicious, oppressive or fraudulent. The attorneys at your accident law firm in San Jose can help determine if pursuing punitive damages is appropriate in your case. Golden State Lawyers, LLP is dedicated to passionately and aggressively litigating personal injury cases for people seriously injured in accidents and their families.