What Is a Personal Injury Case Worth?

When you’ve been in an accident that was the fault of another person and caused you injury, then you are probably interested in filing a personal injury case. But you might be hesitant in filing a lawsuit because you’re not sure what to expect, or because you’re not sure how much money your case is worth. You might be tempted to reach out to a personal injury lawyer to ask them how much money you could receive in compensation, but if they give you an answer without fully discussing your case, then you should seek help from another firm.

At Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC, we are dedicated to getting you the compensation you deserve in your personal injury case, but we won’t promise you a specific amount because each case is different. We will fully investigate your situation and look at every aspect of your claim that could warrant compensation, then we will provide you with an estimate of what you could recover. Let’s take a look at the kinds of losses that we will take into consideration for your case.

What Your Lawyer Considers for Your Settlement Value

There are some questions that your Mississippi injury lawyer will ask you that might feel too personal to answer, but you’ll want to be as honest as possible so they know everything about your case. Some of the questions they will ask you are:

• Did you miss work?
• Did you incur medical bills?
• Are you required to pay those bills back under your insurance policy?
• What other damages did you incur?
• Were you permanently disfigured, or did you have pain and suffering?

From there, your attorney will be able to figure out what category your damages fall under—economic or noneconomic. You could also be eligible for punitive damages. On average, a personal injury payout ranges from $3,000 to $75,000, according to a Martindale-Nolo Research study. Let’s look at the different types of damages that could apply to your case.

Compensatory Damages

Economic damages are also called compensatory damages or actual damages and can be calculated by looking at your losses that you can place a numerical value on. These damages include your lost wages, medical bills, property damages, and other fees that you’ve incurred from the accident or injury.

For these damages, documentation is important. Presenting receipts, medical records, and pay stubs will help your lawyer calculate the exact amount you are owed in economic damages. They will also be able to help you look into getting compensation for future lost wages and future costs of medical care if you have permanent or partial disability that changes your way of life.

General Damages

Losing your previous way of life, hobbies, or a loved one whose emotional and financial support was integral to your life is difficult to deal with. That’s where general damages come in.

Noneconomic damages are sometimes referred to as general damages and are sought out at the same time as compensatory damages. These damages are harder to calculate than economic damages because they aren’t concrete losses like bills and lost wages. General damages are less tangible, and include pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and emotional pain. These can be harder to prove, but an experienced Mississippi injury lawyer will be able to help you.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are less likely to be awarded, but you could be eligible depending on your situation. Punitive damages exist to punish the at-fault party for their especially harmful actions and deter them and others from doing the same thing in the future.

Typically, these damages will only be awarded if the at-fault party acted with knowledge that their unlawful actions would likely cause injury. For example, if a driver chooses to drive drunk, they know that their actions could cause a serious injury or even death. If their drunk driving caused your accident and your injuries, you could seek punitive damages for their negligent actions.

Contact Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC

Even with all the above information, it’s important to note that you can’t know what your claim is worth until you tell a Mississippi injury lawyer all the details of your case. With an attorney from Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC on your side, you know you won’t be settling for less than you deserve because we are prepared to take your case to trial so you get full compensation for your losses.

If you have questions about how much you can recover in your personal injury claim, you could benefit from speaking with an attorney from our office. While we cannot promise a specific amount right away, we could figure out what fair compensation would be for you after discussing all aspects of your situation. Reach out today so we can start discussing your potential case.