With offices in Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Lutz, Attorney Tania L. Rivas and the Rivas Law Group have been representing clients in South Florida in a wide variety of personal injury cases for quite some time now. The first question our clients ask during our initial consultation meetings is almost always the same: “How much compensation will I get my personal injury case?”
This is perfectly understandable. Most of our clients are not wealthy and are suffering serious financial problems as a result of their accident. A cash settlement from the negligent party is their only hope to pay their medical expenses and provide for themselves and their family until they are able to return to work.
Unfortunately, we can’t give you an exact answer. Despite what you may have heard, there is no “magic formula” for determining the amount of compensation a victim is owed for their injuries. Every personal injury case is unique, and there are a number of variables that will determine the final amount of your settlement. It would be irresponsible to get a client’s hopes up with unrealistic expectations.
While it’s true we can’t give you an exact dollar amount for your settlement, we can discuss the details in your case that will affect how much compensation you may get for your personal injury case.
Damages in a Personal Injury Case
In a personal injury lawsuit, some of the things you can collect damages for include:
- Medical Expenses
- Estimated Future Medical Expenses
- Property Damage
- Lost Earnings
- Future Lost Income
- Mental Anguish
- Pain and Suffering
- Loss of consortium, companionship or enjoyment of life
If you have been hurt as a result of someone else’s negligent actions, you have a right to seek compensation for your injuries. The level of compensation you receive for your personal injury case will depend on two things: proving liability and your damages ‑- the costs associated with your injuries.
Economic Vs Non-Ecomonic Damages
When you file a personal injury case, should you be looking for economic or non-economic damages? What are the main differences between these two? Damages are the economic and non-economic costs resulting from your injuries.
- Economic damages are the damages you can assign a specific dollar amount to: emergency room bills, medical expenses, lost wages, etc. Economic damages are used to formulate what your future injury-related expenses will be.
- Non-economic damages are those injuries to which it is difficult to assign an exact figure. These include pain and suffering, mental anguish, losses associated with disfigurement or disability, loss of society and companionship, loss of consortium, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Getting A Settlement That Provides For All Your Needs
After an accident, you have two options. First, you could accept the initial settlement offered by the insurance company. This is quick money, but will it fully compensate you for the long-terms costs of your injuries? Probably not.
Your second option is to retain the services of an experienced personal injury attorney. It may take longer, but will probably yield better results. They are familiar with the many factors that will have a bearing on the amount of money you collect for your settlement, such as:
- Establishing liability and negligence
- The severity of your injuries and the short and long-term impact they will have on your life
- The costs of your ongoing medical treatments
- Your lost time at work and lost future earning capacity
- The ability of the responsible parties to pay your losses
A good personal injury lawyer will have the expertise, skills and resources to gather the evidence that will be crucial in proving your claim. They will have the experience to effectively negotiate your case with the insurance company and the ability to argue your case in front of a judge and jury if necessary. Your lawyer will be honest with you and not make outrageous promises as to the outcome of your case.
Speak With Personal Injury Attorney Tanya L. Rivas about Your Accident
If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident that was caused by the negligent actions of an individual or business, please call the Rivas Law Group at (877) 299-5539. We have offices in office in Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Lutz and are happy to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case at the location most convenient for you.
We handle personal injury cases on a contingency basis, which means there are no up-front costs to you and we only collect our fee after we’ve recovered compensation for you.
