Being harmed in an accident that occurred because someone else was negligent can be a very frustrating experience. Your injuries may require costly medical treatment you are not prepared to pay for. They could also keep you away from work. If you can’t work, you can earn a paycheck.
You will hopefully never find yourself in these circumstances. However, if you do, you should at least understand that you can typically seek compensation for your losses by filing an insurance claim or lawsuit against the negligent party who caused your injuries.
A critical way to improve your chances of recovering proper compensation is to hire a personal injury lawyer to handle your case. When hiring a lawyer, a victim often has one question on their mind: What is my case worth?
There is no universal answer to this question. Various factors can influence how much money a claimant may receive. They include the following:
Medical bills
The main reason to file a claim or lawsuit after being injured due to someone else’s carelessness is to receive financial compensation for losses resulting from your injuries. Medical bills tend to be the most common types of financial losses associated with accidents. Your lawyer can account for the full cost of your medical treatment when helping you pursue compensation.
Lost wages
Depending upon both the nature of your injuries and the nature of your job, it is possible that your injuries will prevent you from performing your duties at work. If you are unable to work and earn a wage until you make a full recovery, this is another factor a lawyer will account for when determining what would constitute a fair settlement.
Future losses
When victims sustain serious injuries, they may require long-term medical treatment and might no longer be able to secure gainful employment in the foreseeable future. Thus, the compensation a victim receives when filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit may not merely compensate them for expenses they have already incurred. It might also compensate them for future losses.
Noneconomic losses
Not every loss associated with a victim’s injuries has an objective monetary value. For example, injuries can cause pain and suffering. In some instances, victims may receive compensation for these types of noneconomic losses as well.
The importance of hiring a personal injury attorney
It’s very important to understand that an ethical attorney cannot promise you will recover a specific amount of compensation when you settle your case or are awarded damages. Don’t trust a lawyer who guarantees a specific payout.
This is not meant to discourage you from hiring an attorney when seeking compensation after being involved in an accident resulting from someone else’s negligence. On the contrary, research indicates that victims who hire personal injury lawyers tend to have much better odds of receiving compensation than victims who represent themselves. Additionally, research shows that when victims hire attorneys, the amount of compensation they receive is greater than the amount of compensation received by victims who do not have professional legal assistance.
Have you been injured because someone else was careless? You may be eligible to recover compensation if so. Our Washington personal injury lawyers at Russell & Hill, PLLC are on hand to help you pursue what you may deserve. Learn more about what we can do for you by calling us at 800-529-0842 to schedule a free consultation.