What is my Los Angeles Personal Injury Claim Worth?

Common questions asked by people who have been injured in a personal injury accident in Los Angeles are, "What is the value of my accident case?"; "How much is my personal injury worth?"; or "Is it worth it to bring a personal injury claim for my injuries?". 

While the facts of each case are different requiring the assistance of a personal injury lawyer to analyze your particular case, there are 7 general questions which can help you determine the monetary value of your case and what compensation you may recover while retaining an accident attorney in Los Angeles.

QUESTION 1: What are your injuries?

The most important and relevant question involved in determining the value of your personal injury case is what are your injuries which were directly caused by your Los Angeles personal injury accident?  If your injuries are small, your recovery is generally small.  If the extent of your injuries are serious and seriously degrade someone's quality of life, such as the loss of ability to walk, then your injuries are more significant where the compensation is generally larger.  Upon having a free consultation with our lawyers, you will understand the extent of your injuries.

QUESTION 2: Did you have any pre-existing injuries or conditions?

Someone who is injured in an accident is entitled to the fair value of their injuries, where someone with pre-existing injuries or conditions is entitled to the fair value of the aggravation of these pre-existing issues.  Injured victims are, however, entitled to compensation if the pre-existing injuries or conditions caused no pain and suffering prior to this accident, and subsequently after this accident he was in extreme pain.  Additionally, the courts have stated that a defendant who causes injuries "takes him as he finds him" even if they are easily injured and suffer from such diseases as hemophilia which may result in a wrongful death.

QUESTION 3: Cost of past medical expenses?

The calculation of personal injury cases used to be calculated by summing past medical expenses which were subsequently multiplied by a factor of 3 to get the value of injuries.  Therefore, if you had $500,000.00 in medical expenses, the value of your case would be $1.5 MILLION dollars.  Because people abused the system to artificially inflate medical expenses, insurance companies and the courts no longer use this system of calculating your personal injuries.  Despite this, past medical expenses for such things as surgeries and drug costs still remain a factor in the determination of the value.

QUESTION 4: What type of Personal Injury Accident?

The type of personal injury accident which caused your injuries is also a factor involved in your recovery.  For example, a pedestrian who hit in a pedestrian cross-walk by a drunk-driver with a blood alcohol level of .12 (where a driver is considered drunk if they have a .08 BAC), then the pedestrian is likely to recover more than someone who is involved in a slip and fall accident in which they suffered the same injuries.

QUESTION 5: Lost Income?

Because of this personal injury accident, you may have missed work while you were recovering or during your stay in the hospital.  You are entitled to be compensated for the full value of lost income or wages that you lost because of this accident. 

Past income is generally proven by showing pay-stubs or tax returns.  Future or anticipated may only be shown using these documents, but this must be proved, and is not guaranteed.

QUESTION 6: At-fault party's insurance company?

When you hire an attorney who will take a personal injury case to trial and has successful won against them, they are more likely to be generous in offering the maximum policy.  Other insurance companies may require you to go to trial and seek a judgment from the court.

QUESTION 7: At-fault party's insurance policy limits?

While your injuries may be serious or life-threatening, if the person responsible for your personal injury accident has a insurance policy limit of $25,000.00, the maximum you may recover from their insurance carrier would be $25,000.00.  Any additional compensation would have to be recovered from the person personally.

While this is not an extensive list of the questions or factors which are used by a personal injury lawyer in assisting you in determining what compensation you may recover, you should speak with an Los Angeles accident attorney at 800-715-4489 to discuss the facts of your particular case.