Many people hurt in serious accidents wonder how much money they can recover from the responsible people or businesses. This is not at all surprising, as many injury victims sustain significant financial losses, including substantial medical expenses and lost income. In addition, accident victims are also entitled to seek compensation for noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering and loss of quality of life.
Determining the Value of a Case Requires Significant Analysis
As nice as it would be to tell clients exactly how much they can expect to receive when they first come to see us, it is impossible to know how much a particular case is worth without conducting a thorough review of all of the facts of the case. Things that can affect how much you ultimately receive include:
- Whether you were partially at fault for your accident
- The seriousness of your injuries
- Your prognosis and any permanent effects left from your injury
- Your age
- What you do for a living and how your injury affects your ability to enjoy your life
- Whether the person or business that caused your accident was engaging in particularly egregious behavior
It is important to keep in mind that when determining the value of a personal injury case, any settlement or award that you obtain should also cover the cost of future losses. In cases involving catastrophic injuries that result in long-term medical problems or permanent impairment, determining future losses can require the use of experts who are familiar with costs associated with long-term care and the amount of money a person in a given occupation can expect to earn during the course of a career.
The Importance of Determining Case Value Prior to Settlement
Most personal injury cases settle out of court. Typically, this involves an insurance company making a settlement offer intended to approximate the amount of money a given case would fetch at trial. In exchange for accepting the settlement, the victim agrees to waive the right to bring a lawsuit to recover compensation for losses associated with the accident.
It is nearly impossible to recover compensation after you have entered into a settlement, so it is critical to know what your case is worth before accepting any offer made by the insurance company. Failure to do so could result in significant uncompensated losses.
Call Today to Speak With a Connecticut Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been injured in an accident caused by another person or business, you should speak to an attorney as soon as possible. The law firm of Leighton, Katz & Drapeau has represented the rights of injured victims for years, and we are dedicated to obtaining the largest possible settlement or award for each client we represent. To schedule a free case evaluation with a personal injury lawyer serving clients in Connecticut, call our office today at (860) 875-7000 or send us an email through our online contact form.
