A personal injury is when someone suffers an accident that was caused by the negligence of another party. That other party can be an individual, like a driver who causes a car accident; however, the negligent party can also be a business, such as a store that does not clean up a spill that causes you to slip, fall, and injure yourself. No matter who causes the accident, their insurance company should pay you for the damages you suffered.
The best way of getting the compensation you deserve is by hiring a lawyer to represent you. But you should make certain that the lawyer you retain specializes in the type of injury you experienced. So if you were injured in a car crash, you should contact a car accident attorney; if you were hurt because of medical misdiagnosis, you would call a medical malpractice lawyer, and so on.
An attorney is valuable for many reasons: they can help gather evidence to build your case, they can negotiate with the insurance company, and one of their most vital abilities is that they can calculate the value of your damages. That means they will ensure you get the right amount of compensation.
The Damages in a Personal Injury Case
The value of your personal injury case is determined by the damages you suffered because of the accident. Those damages come in the categories of economic and non-economic damages. There is sometimes an additional third category called punitive damages, but the court can only award them in special circumstances. Those circumstances are when the at-fault party displays especially egregious or dangerous behavior. Punitive damages are meant to punish the liable party, whereas the other damages provide compensation for the victim.
Economic Damages
As the name suggests, these are damages that have a tangible financial value. This makes them easy to calculate, but you will need the help of an attorney to make sure that they are accurate. Some of the economic damages include the following:
- Medical Expenses – These include the ambulance ride, hospital stay, doctor’s appointments, prescription medication, and so on.
- Property Damage – This is the repair or replacement costs for property damaged in the accident.
- Lost Wages – If you are unable to work while you recover from your personal injury, you can be compensated for the wages you would have earned during your recovery.
Non-Economic Damages
These are the damages that have a negative impact on your life but don’t have a measurable financial value. They include the following:
- Pain and Suffering – This is the pain and discomfort you feel because of your injuries.
- Psychological Conditions – A personal injury can cause a person to experience mental issues like depression, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), and more.
- Loss of Enjoyment – If the accident injuries have left you unable to perform or enjoy previous activities, you can include this in your list of damages.
Non-economic damages are calculated by an insurance adjuster and there are different methods they can use. One of the most common is the multiplier method, which is when the economic damages are multiplied by a number between one and seven. The more severe the personal injury, the higher the multiplier.
Contact an Attorney to Calculate Your Case’s Value
Ultimately, the value of your case depends on the severity of your injury and the worse your injuries are, the higher the value of your case. You need an attorney to calculate the value of your case since they will make certain that the valuation is accurate and you don’t leave any money on the table.
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