One of the most common questions we receive at Aronberg, Kouser, Snyder & Lindemann, P.A. is “What is my case worth?” The answer to this question is tied directly to the value of your damages.
Damages are the losses you suffered because of the accident. These can be economic damages, which have a direct financial cost associated with them, or non-economic damages, which are more subjective in nature. An experienced Cherry Hill personal injury lawyer can help identify the damages you sustained and calculate their value.
Here are some common damages included in New Jersey personal injury cases and how they are valued:
Property Damage
If you were injured in a car accident or other motor vehicle accident, you can demand payment for the costs to repair your damaged vehicle, as well as other expenses you incurred, such as rental car costs and depreciation. If the cost to repair your vehicle exceeds its value, you can request payment to buy a replacement vehicle of the same year, make, and model.
Medical Expenses
Many personal injuries involve physical injuries that require medical care and services, such as:
- Emergency room visits
- Hospital stays
- Ambulance rides
- Diagnostic testing
- Hospital stays
- Specialist visits
- Medication
- Rehabilitation
- Therapy
- Follow-up visits
You can include payment for these services in your personal injury claim. Your lawyer can calculate the value of your claim by reviewing your medical bills, medical liens, and documentation from your healthcare providers.
If you will require medical care in the future, your lawyer may need to consult a medical expert who can identify the medical treatment you may need and their average costs.
Lost Wages and Income
Personal injuries often result in victims having to miss work so they can seek medical treatment and heal from their injuries. Personal injury victims have a right to recover compensation for their lost wages, salaries, tips, bonuses, and used employment benefits like vacation and sick time. Additionally, if their injuries prevent them from working or change the work they can do, they can seek compensation for their reduced earning capacity. This analysis often involves hiring an economic expert or vocational specialist to calculate the victim’s pre- and post-accident projected earnings.
Pain and Suffering
The rest of the damages identified here are considered non-economic damages. They cannot be easily quantified, but they represent real losses that someone may experience because of an accident caused by someone else’s negligence.
Pain and suffering damages compensate victims for the physical pain and discomfort they experience due to their injuries. Calculating fair compensation involves considering the injury’s severity, the duration of pain, and the impact on the victim’s quality of life.
Emotional Distress and Mental Anguish
The victim’s emotional distress and mental anguish are also factored into personal injury claims. Mental health professionals may be able to explain how the victim’s life changed because of the accident to provide context for this element of damages.
Loss of Consortium
Loss of consortium damages compensate for the victim’s damaged relationship with their spouse and loved ones due to their impairment. It can be challenging to estimate the value of these losses, but a personal injury attorney can work to build a strong narrative regarding how the accident negatively affected family dynamics.
Contact Our Cherry Hill Personal Injury Lawyers Today
Other factors can affect the value of your personal injury claim, including whether you contributed to the accident and the available insurance for your claim. An experienced personal injury lawyer can review your case, assess your damages, and negotiate for fair compensation.
Contact Aronberg, Kouser, Snyder & Lindemann, P.A. today for a free case review.
