How Much is Your Personal Injury Claim Worth?

Suffering preventable injuries can be a tremendously difficult experience. Aside from physical injuries and concerns about one's health, victims and families often encounter extensive financial consequences. These can result from costly medical bills and – when injuries are serious enough to cause time away from work – lost income. When speaking with injured victims and their families, our personal injury attorneys at Lessem, Newstat & Tooson, LLP commonly hear about these struggles, and often receive questions about the potential value of their cases.

As a firm that does everything in our power to support injured victims and address any and all concerns they may have, we make it a point to help clients understand how the personal injury process works and what compensation they may be eligible to receive. All accidents, injuries, and cases are unique, and compensation will always vary depending on the unique circumstances involved – including the nature of their injuries, the medical treatment they required, and their future needs, among others.

Although the value of every case is different – and difficult to estimate before treatment is completed and the full scope of damages assessed, there is a general method used to award compensation. Victims may be eligible to recover the following damages:

Economic Damages

Victims who file a successful personal injury claim may be able to recover any financial expenses that resulted directly from their accident and injuries. These economic damages may include, but are not limited to:

  • Past medical expenses and projected future medical expenses
  • Lost work wages and projected future earnings
  • Costs of any necessary medical or psychological care
  • Funeral expenses (in wrongful death cases)

Non-Economic Damages

Victims – and in some cases family members – may also be eligible to recover any non-economic damages they suffered. These damages are typically more difficult to calculate, as they are intangible and do not easily equate into monetary sums. When awarding compensation, courts may consider a victim's pain and suffering, loss of quality or enjoyment of life, and their emotional injuries. In certain cases – particularly those involving catastrophic injuries and wrongful death – the emotional damages suffered by family members may also be taken into account.

Punitive Damages

Aside from economic and non-economic damages, some victims may be eligible to recover punitive damages. Punitive damages are not awarded in every case, however. They are reserved for cases in which a wrongdoer causes harm as a result of gross negligence or willful misconduct. Our legal team can help you determine whether or not punitive damages may be applicable in your case, as well as the potential economic and non-economic damages you may be able to recover.

Ultimately, the value of your personal injury claim will depend on the unique facts of your case. This is why it is so crucially important to work with experienced, attentive personal injury lawyers who address your case on an individual basis. At Lessem, Newstat & Tooson, LLP, we evaluate cases to help clients better understand the potential value of their claim, and fight aggressively to help them recover the maximum compensation possible.

Whether you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident, on another’s property, or as the result of any form of negligence, our award-winning lawyers are readily available to help. Our personal injury team serves clients throughout Los Angeles, Ventura, and the surrounding areas of Southern California – and we offer FREE consultations to help you get started on the path to full and fair compensation. To discuss your rights and potential case, contact us for a free case review.

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