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Testimonials | Immigration, Auto & Personal Injury Law | Minneapolis

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What Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?

October 18, 2018 – David Hahn

Case Results | Immigration & Personal Injury | Minneapolis, MN

How common are personal injury cases? The answer may surprise you. In a recent report, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that there were roughly 2.9 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in the United States. Add to this the number of non-workplace personal injuries, and the figures become astronomical.

With so many injuries each year, you may wonder if your case is really serious enough to bring to court. How much should your case be worth before you pursue it? How can you determine how much your case is really worth?

Let’s learn more about how personal injury cases are valued so that you understand the process before starting your case.

Is My Personal Injury Case Really Worth Pursuing?

Many people are held back from pursuing a personal injury case because they don’t know if they’ll actually be compensated. What things should you keep in mind? And how will these affect the compensation you receive?

What If I’m Partly Responsible for the Injury?

Personal injury cases focus in part on determining who is responsible for the injury or damages. In some cases, both parties may share the fault. If you’re partly responsible for an injury, can you still be awarded compensation?

The answer is yes. In some cases, compensation can still be awarded to you. Insurance companies generally look for a percentage of responsibility to assign to each party involved. If it were determined that you were 15% responsible for an injury, then that 15% would be discounted from your compensation.

The key is that the other party must be in some way negligent in order for them to be responsible for providing compensation to you. If the other party wasn’t clearly negligent, then it may be beneficial to consult with an attorney to determine what your options are.

What If My Injuries Are Minor?

Even if your injuries are minor, it’s still possible to receive compensation. However, you’ll need to weigh your decision carefully. Receiving compensation at the very least requires you to file a claim with an insurance company, and at the most may require hiring an attorney, giving a deposition, and going through many grueling processes. If you feel the compensation isn’t worth the potential hassle, then you may decide not to seek compensation. To learn more, see this helpful guide from NOLO.

How Can I Find out What My Personal Injury Case Is Worth?

The compensation that you receive at the end of a personal injury case will depend on a variety of factors. Your total compensation number will come down to a combination of compensation types. Let’s look at a few of the most common ones.

 

  • Medical treatment. The treatment you receive immediately after your injury and physical therapy or additional treatment may be included in your compensation.
  • Lost income. If you’re injured, then it’s likely that you’ll miss work for several days or even months. In certain cases, you may be compensated for this lost income.
  • Property loss. If your property was lost or damaged due to an accident that you were injured in, then you may be entitled to compensation for it.
  • Pain and suffering. Pain and suffering experienced during or after an incident that caused your personal injury may also be included in your compensation amount.
  • Emotional distress. This distress is usually associated with more serious accidents that left you with fear, anxiety, or loss of sleep.

 

For example, if you were injured in a car accident, then you may be entitled to a few compensation types. The treatment for your immediate injuries and any ongoing therapy may be covered by your compensation. Additionally, if you missed several weeks of work as a result of your injury, that lost income may also be covered. And, if you lost any property in that accident, it may also be covered.

To find out how much your case is worth, you should first look at any expenses directly caused by the accident, whether these are medical bills or lost property. Then add to that any indirect expenses, such as lost income. Finally, if your accident was fairly serious and caused long-term harm, you may be entitled to additional compensation.

This will give you a basic idea of what your case could be worth. However, you should consult with a professional to create the most accurate number possible.

Don’t Miss out on the Compensation You Deserve

A personal injury can have far-reaching negative effects on your life. To make sure you get the compensation you deserve, contact one of our attorneys. We have more than 70 combined years of experience guiding injured clients through the legal process. We’re ready to work with you on your case to help you navigate this difficult process.

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