How Much Is My Catastrophic Injury Case Worth? Understanding The Factors That Determine Your Compensation
After suffering a severe injury, one of the most common questions victims ask is how much compensation they will receive. Or how much money the insurance company will pay for the claim. However, a personal injury lawyer can help you answer some of these questions. But obviously, the more severe an injury is, the more money you receive in compensation.
Most catastrophic injury claims receive payouts of between $300,000 to $750,000, but this amount varies depending on the severity of the injury. Suppose you have been asking yourself how much is my catastrophic injury case worth. In that case, you have to consider several factors, such as medical costs, inability to work, suffering, pain, and loss of income. This article discusses the factors that determine your compensation.
The Economic Damage
In most catastrophic injury claims, the economic damages constitute much of the claim’s value. Therefore, it is the most significant factor that your injury lawyer should pay close attention to when assessing the amount to be paid in compensation. Some of the economic damages include;
Medical Bills
When considering the medical costs, you need to determine past and future medical bills because many sustained catastrophic injuries require continuous treatment. For instance, if I want to find out ‘how much is my catastrophic injury case worth?’, I would include the prescription costs, doctors’ visits, surgery, ongoing treatment costs, hospitalization, and other medical expenses.
Property Damages and Lost Wages
It is also essential to document all the lost income when preparing your claim; this should also include the days you have missed work and the past and future loss of income. Also, if your injury accompanied any property damage, it should be included in your claim.
The Non-Economic Damages
Even though it can be challenging to assess the cost of non-economic damages, they should also be included in your claim as they are critical determinants of your compensation. Below are some of the non-economic factors I would consider in determining how much my catastrophic injury case is worth.
Sufferings and Pain
The pain you endured during the injury determines how much a catastrophic injury case is worth. It also includes the ongoing pain you are bearing and the emotional damage you suffered. It is a challenging process, but with the help of a personal injury lawyer, you can prepare an accurate claim and get fair compensation.
Consortium and Emotional Distress
Loss of companionship due to the death of your loved one is yet another critical factor to consider. There is also emotional distress that a victim suffers as a result of the loss of a loved one and needs compensation to help them to recover.
Loss of Recreation
In most instances, a catastrophic injury incapacitates the victim to the extent they cannot participate in recreational activities they used to engage in before, which means they cannot live an active lifestyle anymore.
Summary
Most personal injury claims receive compensation between $3,000 and $75,000; however, the amount varies significantly as several factors determine the worth of catastrophic injury cases. Some of these factors include medical bills, property loss, and lost wages. Other non-economic factors determining your compensation are the suffering and pain, Consortium and emotional distress, and loss of recreation.
Read also: Is it Necessary to File a UCC Financing Statement for My Business?