How Much Is My Case Worth?

What is the value of my case? This is the single most common question we receive as lawyers, and it is also the single most difficult to answer. The short answer is that every case is different, and the valuation of your claim will directly correspond to the facts, though this is an oversimplification of a complicated analysis. If you have any questions, call an attorney.

Analyzing Vehicle Accident Case Value

Plaintiffs are entitled to various elements of damages in an automobile accident case in Illinois. These include compensation for medical expenses related to the accident, pain and suffering, disability and disfigurement, and lost wages.

Medical Expenses

To recoup medical expenses as they relate to a vehicle accident, it is the plaintiff’s burden to prove that the medical expenses were reasonable, necessary and related to the accident.

Pain And Suffering

Pain and suffering is the legal term for the physical and emotional stress caused by an injury. Damages that might come under this category would be pain associated with the injury and with treatment of the injury.

Disability And Disfigurement

Disability and disfigurement allow you to collect future damages right now. This relates to future disability related to the accident or disfigurement such as scarring or burns.

Lost Wages

Lost wages refer to wages that a plaintiff cannot earn because of injury. To recover lost wages, a plaintiff must show that an accident resulted in missed time from work.

Lost income can include:

• Lost wages for the duration you are unable to work because of your injury

• Lost earning capacity if you suffer a lasting disability from an accident that results in your inability to make as much money as you did before the accident

• Lost opportunities such as missing a job interview, missing work assignments or missing benefits or promotions while you are recovering from an injury suffered in an automobile accident

To document lost wages, it is important to have:

1. a letter from your physician linking your lost time or disability to the accident,

2. a letter from your employer verifying your time missed from work as well as your pay rate and/or salary, and

3. a copy of the police report.

A personal injury lawyer can help guide you through the process of a motor vehicle accident to ensure that you receive the benefits and compensation you are legally entitled to. Car insurance companies will use their experience to limit the settlement amount.