Valuing Your Personal Injury Case

After a personal injury every victim would like to know the factors that affect the value of their claim to be made to an insurance company. There are a number of variables that go into putting a dollar figure amount when an injury claim. This article will discuss the most important factors that will affect the dollar value placed on a personal injury claim by an insurance company.

 
It is important to realize that each and every personal injury case is different, however, they are also a few common factors that often either increase or decrease the amount of compensation a plaintiff can expect to receive in an insurance settlement or personal injury lawsuit. Some of these factors include the following:

 
Factors that affect your multiplier - one of the most common formulas used to value a personal injury claim is where a multiplier is applied in order to determine how much pain the plaintiff has suffered due to the injuries. The factors that indicate that a higher multiplier must be applied to a calculation in a personal injury case includes the following: 

• hard injury - this means a broken bone, head injury, joint injury, vertebrae injury, nerve damage and joint injury 

• medical expenses that are primarily for treatment - medical treatment by a medical doctor, clinic or hospital 

• prescribed medication related to the injury 

• long-term injury treatment period 

• long recovery duration 

• permanent injury - such as a scar, stiffness, weakness or loss of mobility 

• physical or emotional distress as a result the injury 

• daily life disruptions, missed school or training, recreation, cancelled special event.

 
Factors that indicate the use of a lower multiplier when calculating a personal injury claim include the following:

• soft tissue injuries such as sprains, strains or bruises
• a large amount of your medical expenses is for diagnosis rather than treatment
• medical treatment by non-MD providers 
• no medication has been prescribed in connection with your injury 
• only brief medical treatment
  
• a short recovery period for your injuries 
• no residual or permanent injury 
• no physical or emotional problems other than original injury
  
  

Other factors that affect compensation - after the application of the settlement formula there are other legal and practical issues that help or hurt the overall strength of the personal injury case. Factors that are likely to result in a higher compensation after the formula is applied include the following: 

• no shared fault for the accident on your part
• your being organized and calm in respect of the claims and settlement process 
• the insured is not credible or sympathetic 
• presence of witnesses to bolster your case
• some dramatic advantage
  
  

Factors that are likely to lower your compensation after the formula is applied include: 

• finding that you have shared some of the blame for the accident or your injuries
• the plaintiff is disorganized and impatient
• the insured is sympathetic 
• no witnesses to bolster your case.
  

 
For legal advice and representation contact an accident lawyer in Wasilla, today.

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