The Challenge of Calculating Personal Injury Claim Value

“How much is my personal injury claim worth?” this is the question on every injured victim’s mind after a car accident, motorcycle accident, and all other types of motor vehicle collisions in Phoenix and elsewhere in Arizona.

And it makes sense why you, as an injured person, should be wondering how to calculate your personal injury claim. After all, medical bills are mounting and will likely to accumulate for weeks, months or years to come. Besides, you will most likely have to miss time from work, not to mention that a good lawyer will help you recover pain and suffering damages.

So yeah, there are many damages you could recover, and your personal injury claim could be worth from $1,000 or $10,000 to $100,000 or $1 million. Unfortunately, there is no magic formula to determine the value of your personal injury claim in advance.

How to calculate the value of your personal injury claim?

Ask any Phoenix personal injury attorney if you do not take our word for it. While every injured victim would love to know how much they could potentially recover in compensation, skilled attorneys never guarantee a specific recovery, because every personal injury lawsuit is unique and unpredictable.

“Even if your personal injury claim seems legit and solid at first, wait until litigation reaches the stage of discovery and potential defenses that could be mounted by the defendant,” warns our experienced personal injury attorney in Phoenix from Lorona Mead. “Do not forget that businesses, wealthy and smart people are always represented by lawyers, and they will do whatever it takes to escape liability or minimize the value of your compensation even if they were at fault.”

Yes, this might sound frustrating, as every injured person would like to know how much he or she will be able to win as part of the settlement or verdict, but there is no calculator to determine the value of your case. Only a skilled lawyer who has decades of experience in litigating similar cases may be able to name an approximate figure after analyzing all aspects of your particular case.

Types of damages you can recover in Phoenix personal injury case

You may be able to recover three types of damages in Phoenix and elsewhere in Arizona: physical damages, mental damages, and punitive damages. The total amount of these damages will depend on various factors, including but not limited to the percentage of negligence on the part of both the defendant and plaintiff, the strength of evidence presented during the discovery stage, as well as the willingness of both sides to negotiate and reach an agreement.

Generally, it is relatively easy to calculate the total value of the compensatory damages in a personal injury case, as these are usually documented from the date of the injury with the help of receipts and other simple formulas. These compensatory damages usually include:

  • Medical expenses;
  • Loss of income;
  • Loss of earning capacity; and
  • Property damages or loss.

The following are more difficult to calculate, but could total tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation depending on the circumstances in your particular case:

  • Pain and suffering;
  • Emotional distress; and
  • Loss of enjoyment and consortium.

The mental element of the damages is calculated in an objective manner and usually requires the medical examination of a qualified medical professional. “Also, do not forget that the total damages in your case could be reduced if the defendant successfully argues that you were partially to blame for your injuries,” warns our Phoenix personal injury attorney.

Since Arizona is a comparative negligence state, your compensable damages could be reduced proportionally to the degree of your fault in causing the accident and injuries. Contact the law offices of Lorona Mead to get a free consultation about your particular case. Let our skilled personal injury lawyers calculate the value of your claim. Call at 602-385-6825 or fill out this contact form.