- October 9, 2017
- Personal Injury
The value of a personal injury claim varies. If you are pursuing compensation, it is important to keep copies of medical bills, lost wages, and other economic damages to use when calculating the amount you may receive for your claim.In general, there are 2 types of damages you may be awarded in a personal injury case:
- Economic damages (also called special damages)
- Noneconomic damages (also called general damages)
Economic damages include things like medical bills, lost wages, property damage, lost future income, and expected future medical expenses. These are fairly easy to calculate, and you can use a dollar amount for each category to determine how much you need to cover all the expenses. Talking to your doctor can help you determine how much you will need for future medical costs due to long-term treatment and care, and you can estimate how much income you will lose as a result of your injuries.
On the other hand, noneconomic damages are harder to calculate. They include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment, and other categories that relate to a decreased quality of life because of the injury. Because there is no dollar amount for each category, settlement calculators use a multiplier to determine how much you will be entitled to. This is a number between 1.5 and 5. Basically, the greater your pain and suffering and other general damages, the higher the number you will want. It will be multiplied by the amount of your economic damages.
Don’t Trust Insurance Adjusters
As a rule, insurance companies will try to pay the lowest possible settlement to accident victims. For example, they may want to use a lower number, like 2 or 3, to multiply your noneconomic damages. They also may try to dispute your claim entirely, saying that your injuries did not result from the accident or that your injuries are not as bad as you say they are. Instead of paying what you owe, insurance adjusters may try to offer a much lower amount. That is why it is important to have experienced legal representation on your side. A knowledgeable attorney can help maximize the amount of settlement you are entitled to, and can negotiate with insurance adjusters on your behalf.
Call Goodman Acker P.C. Today at (248) 286-8100
Goodman Acker P.C. provides diligent legal services to clients in Detroit. If you or a loved one have suffered an injury because of someone else’s negligence or carelessness, we can help you pursue compensation. Our Detroit personal injury lawyers can investigate the incident, gather evidence, and represent you to insurance companies as you pursue the financial settlement you deserve.
Contact our firm today to schedule a free initial case review. There are no fees unless we win.