Posted on Friday, September 8th, 2017 at 3:57 pm
After a car accident that results in serious injuries, an injured victim may need to make a decision about whether to pursue a personal injury claim against the negligent driver who caused the accident. In many cases, the personal injury claim can be settled through the negligent driver’s insurance company instead of going through a trial. However, even in the case of settlement, the injured person may want to know how much the case is worth before settling.
The value of a personal injury case depends on the kind of injury suffered, and on the actual monetary loss a person suffers. Because every case presents a different set of circumstances, it is not possible to quote an exact number for a case based on other people’s cases, even if the people suffered similar injuries. Personal injury compensation is not an area where one size fits all.
Compensation for personal injury may be awarded for the actual monetary loss a person suffers as a result of the injury. This includes monetary damages such as the cost of medical care, loss of work, the cost of hiring other people to help with housework and similar tasks, and even compensation for loss of future earnings. An injured person may also receive compensation for the pain and suffering, loss of companionship and consortium, and other such non-monetary damages.
In some cases, it may be possible for an injured person to be awarded punitive damages. This kind of compensation is usually awarded in cases where the person who caused the injury acted in an especially reckless manner, or acted intentionally to injure someone. A claim for punitive damages in a car accident may be made if the driver was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Punitive damages are supposed to punish for the accident, or deter a negligent person or company from engaging on the same behavior in the future.
Generally, it is possible to calculate the monetary costs and at least estimate the non-monetary compensation that can be awarded in a case. In fact, an injured person is required to prove the true cost of the monetary damages, including the estimated costs of future expenses, in order to recover these costs. There are various ways to calculate future expenses, and the future expenses may be reduced to present day value.
Speaking with an experienced personal injury attorney can give an injured person a good idea of the potential value of the case. While an amount of compensation is not guaranteed, it can give the injured person a good idea of whether the settlement offered by the insurance company is a fair settlement. The knowledge of how much the case is worth, even a general estimation, can give an injured person comfort that he or she is getting the compensation he or she deserves.
Let Us Help You
Making a decision to accept a settlement offer from an insurance company can be very difficult for an injured person who may need the money to cover bills immediately, but who also feels the case would be worth more at trial. Before making any decisions to settle with an insurance company, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. in Atlanta, Georgia, today.