One of the most common questions we hear right off the bat is, “how much is my case worth?” The truth is, we can’t answer that right away. Every personal injury case is unique. We can’t compare one truck accident or back injury to another. We have to thoroughly investigate your case, get to know the facts, and evaluate the potential value of your claim based on all of the circumstances.
While we can’t tell you a settlement amount off the top of our head, we can explain the types of damages that might lead to compensation. One of the reasons it benefits you to work with an attorney is that we’re experienced in identifying your many physical, emotional, and financial injuries. We’re also experienced in placing an appropriate value of non-economic injuries that you can’t simply add up, like your physical pain and mental distress. These skills help you get the most out of a personal injury settlement or during litigation.
To talk more about the value of your personal injury claim, contact Our expert personal injury attorneys through the online form, or by calling (312) 236-2900. We offer free initial consultations. We also take personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront or hourly fees, and you don’t pay us unless we win.
Personal injury cases involve several economic and non-economic damages that you can demand compensation for.
A sizeable portion of any personal injury claim is the medical costs. We’ll demand compensation for all of your medical bills, including the ambulance, emergency room visit, surgeries, other treatments, prescriptions, follow-up doctor’s visits, specialists, medical equipment like crutches, at-home care, transportation to from the doctor’s office, and any other related medical expenses. We’ll also work with medical experts to evaluate your future medical needs and calculate their costs. It’s important to fight for a settlement amount that covers your future medical needs when you’ve suffered a serious or catastrophic injury.
Your compensation should include money to repair damaged property or replace destroyed property. This is most common in car accidents when your vehicle is heavily damaged, or the insurance company declares it is a total loss.
If you were hurt in an accident, you had to take time off work to heal. You might’ve missed days, weeks, or months. You lost out on your ordinary income and might’ve been forced to use vacation and sick days. We’ll demand the defendant reimburse you for your lost income. Usually, we obtain a statement from your employer regarding your wages and the amount you’ve lost while recovering. If you sustained serious injuries and can’t go back to work for some time, we’ll calculate you’re your future lost earnings. If you’ll be able to work but in a new type of position where you’ll earn less, or you’re disabled and can’t work anymore, then we calculate your reduced earning potential across the remainder of your life.
If the accident caused a permanent physical disability, we’d ask that you be compensated for such a significant injury. A disability impacts your ability to work, how you can participate at home with your family, and your ability to pursue your favorite hobbies. It can impact your standard of living and mental health, which is why you deserve to be compensated.
Disfigurement is a physical injury that negatively alters your appearance. The more your appearance is changed, and the more severe the disfigurement, the more this injury is worth. We might also argue you deserve a greater amount of compensation if you’re young, and this disfigurement might impact your ability to form romantic relationships or move up in your intended career.
One of the largest portions of a personal injury settlement or jury award is often pain and suffering. This covers the physical pain and discomfort arising from your physical injuries. We’ll take into account the severity and duration of your pain due to your injuries. We might recommend that you keep a daily journal about your experience. Your own words are often the best proof of your pain and suffering.
You don’t just feel physical pain when you’re hurt in an accident. You also feel a wide range of negative emotions. You feel anger, resentment, grief, and despair. You might experience depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and other mental health consequences. You deserve to be compensated for these invisible injuries just as you’re compensated for your physical injuries.
When you’re hurt in an accident, it takes a toll on your loved ones. If you’re married, your spouse has shouldered a heavy burden helping you recover and navigate the personal injury claim process. Your serious injuries have likely impacted your relationship. Your spouse might have a claim for compensation for the damage the accident did to your marriage, like the loss of your companionship, support, services, affection, and intimate relationship.
A lot goes in to negotiating a personal injury settlement or fighting for compensation in court. We consider more than the value of your damages. That’s because numerous factors can increase or decrease your claim, including:
We put a lot of time and care into building strong personal injury cases. We know how important it is for you to receive the maximum compensation possible. You have a mountain of medical bills to pay after not receiving your normal pay for a while. We thoroughly investigate each case. We work with you, your medical providers, and experts to gather evidence of all your injuries. We prepare you to document your injuries and talk about them in court or a deposition. Every step we take is to reach a fair settlement or win your court case.
Call Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. at (312) 236-2900, or use our online form to schedule your free initial consultation. Our Illinois personal injury lawyers are here for you.
When you’re fighting for maximum compensation, we know what it takes to get it.
