How are Damages in a Personal Injury Case Calculated?

Personal Injury Overview

Damages are the amount of compensation that you receive after someone else’s negligence causes you to suffer an injury. There are many factors, both economic and non-economic, to consider when calculating the value of a personal injury case. Additionally, an amount that works for one case may not appropriately cover the damages of another one.

Payable Damages in a Hamilton Personal Injury Case

It is normal to question which costs are covered in a personal injury case and which are not. Suffering a single injury can lead to expensive medical costs. Some injuries can also prevent the individual from working, making it difficult for them to keep up with their household expenses.

The following damages may be available in your personal injury case:

  • Medical costs (past, present, and future)
  • Emergency medical transportation costs
  • Rehabilitation needs
  • Lost wages and work benefits
  • Property damage
  • Necessary household renovations
  • Childcare costs
  • Pain and suffering
  • Diminished earning capacity

The purpose of damages in a personal injury case is to make the injured party whole again. While compensation may not diminish the pain felt or the extent of an injury, it can help the injured party obtain the necessary resources to deal with it.

Economic Versus Non-Economic Damages

Some costs – the economic ones – are easier to calculate. Economic costs include things like medical bills and lost wages. You can usually calculate this number by combining medical bills, income statements, and any other debts that are from the injury.

Non-economic damages include things like pain and suffering and diminished earning capacity. It is not as simple to put a number on the pain and suffering that you had to go through or to estimate the amount of income that you would have earned if it had not been for the injury. This often requires expert witnesses who can attest to things like average wages and psychological well being.

Factors Considered When Calculating Personal Injury Damages

Your personal injury lawyer will help you calculate the value of your case. They will consider the following factors:

  • Economic impact of the accident
  • Level of distress caused by the accident
  • Estimated impact to life moving forward
  • Standard compensation of similar cases
  • Level of distress caused by the accident
  • The details of the accident

Determining the Value of a Hammonton Settlement Offer

Settlement offers are common in personal injury cases. Settlements keep both parties from expensive and timely trials. However, it is important that you choose a personal injury lawyer that understands the extent of the accident to your life and that will not push you to take an offer that does not make sense to your case.

Your offer should appropriately cover the damages that you have had to endure because of the accident. This amount may look different between cases, depending on the details of the case so it is important to evaluate any offers based on your individual experience.

Contact a Linwood Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Personal Injury Case in New Jersey

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a personal injury in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at The Law Offices of Richard A. Stoloff represent clients injured because of a personal injury in Egg Harbor, Atlantic City, Galloway Township, Hamilton, Pleasantville, Hammonton, Somers Point, Ventnor City, Linwood, and throughout New Jersey. Call 609-957-6810 or email us to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 605 New Road, Linwood, NJ 08221 as well as an office in Philadelphia.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.