This is a question we get a lot. It’s probably among the top reasons accident victims call our California personal injury firm. When you ask us “How much is my case worth?”, we have to combine our experience handling personal injury claims like yours with the current version of personal injury laws in California.
Oftentimes, people that have spoken to the insurance company about their California personal injury claim are shocked to find out that what the insurance company is offering is far less than the potential value of their claim.
Insurance companies know that if they can get you to sign on the dotted line and quickly accept a check, their legal liability is severely minimized. They want you to just deal with them because it results in lower payouts to accident victims – leaving hurt people and their families on the hook for unexpected medical costs and other future expenses related to their injuries.
How much is a personal injury claim worth?
The answer to this question depends on the type of accident you were involved in. It’s important to speak to an attorney that has experience handling accidents like yours. For example, if you were hurt in a motorcycle accident, you should speak with a qualified motorcycle accident attorney. If you’re dealing with a medical malpractice claim, you should schedule a medical lawyer consultation.
Most motor vehicle accident claims involve medical expenses, property damage and lost time at work. A slip and fall injury claim probably doesn’t involve property damage, but you may still need medical treatment for your injuries.
California is a Comparative Negligence State
Investigation is the first step in answering the question: “How much is a personal injury claim worth?”
In the state of California, you are required to prove who was at-fault for the accident before you can seek compensation. It’s possible that multiple parties share the blame.
For example, pedestrians have the right of way at marked and unmarked cross walks, but they may not have the right of way in other places. If someone abruptly jumped into a busy street, all or part of the fault for the accident may be placed on the pedestrian.
In evaluating the value of a personal injury claim, it becomes increasingly important to understand the events that led up to the accident. Our experienced California personal injury attorneys can use the available data to reconstruct the accident and accurately assess which party(s) share which percentage(s) of the blame for your injuries.
Collectible Damages after an Accident in California
California’s personal injury laws are designed to compensate accident victims for all of the costs associated with their accident. These costs can be monetary, but they can also be emotional or physical.
We generally break down compensation into two important categories: economic and non-economic.
Economic Damages after an Accident in California
- Medical Bills
- Property Damage
- Lost Wages
- Future Therapy
Our goal is to ensure you have the resources you need to get your life as close as possible to the way it was before your accident. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may not be able to return to work right away, if at all.
In many California accident cases we are able to pursue compensation for future medical treatment, as well as the medical treatment you’ve already received. Some injuries require physical rehabilitation and therapy to restore mobility and strength.
We want to ensure the at-fault party(s) compensates you for these ongoing and future expenses so that you have the best chance at getting your life back to normal.
We’ll also carefully review how your injuries will impact your ability to work. Maybe you’ll need to take time off or find a new position that can accommodate your physical limitations. We’ll carefully calculate your lost income potential as a result of your accident.
Non-Economic Damages after an Accident in California
- Pain and Suffering
- Mental Anguish
- Loss of Consortium
We also need to look at the costs of your accident that do not come with a bill or a medical invoice. Pain and suffering damages are designed to compensate you for the disruption, stress and physical strain of being injured in an accident. For example, the long term effects of concussions are complex and unique to each patient. It’s hard to put a dollar figure on these items, so you need to speak with an experienced California personal injury attorney.
Mental anguish represents the emotional trauma of your accident. Experiencing severe pain as a result of your injuries, as well as the mental stress of dealing with your accident and your changed circumstances can be factors in calculating the mental anguish your accident caused.
Loss of Consortium is most commonly associated with wrongful death claims in California. It refers to the emotional trauma of losing a partner or a family member that you had a close relationship with. This can include the economic impact of losing their future income potential.
So, how much is my claim worth?
The best thing you can do to answer this important question is to schedule a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer at The May Firm. There are many factors that can impact the value of your claim. By meeting with our team, we can review your case and help you estimate its potential value.
