What Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?

Arlington Heights Attorney Helps Injury Victims Understand the Value of Their Claims

If you have been seriously injured in an accident due to another person's negligence, you may not only be coping with physical pain, discomfort, and limitations, but also financial stress due to the many expenses and losses that an injury may bring. As such, it is reasonable to wonder whether you may be entitled to compensation, and if so, what the value of that compensation may be.

At Adler Law Offices, LTD., we have decades of experience representing clients in many different kinds of personal injury cases, and we can help you understand what your case is likely worth in terms of a settlement or trial verdict. Attorney Charles Adler will work hard on your behalf to ensure that you receive fair compensation based on the details of your case, and he charges a fee only in cases in which he succeeds in securing compensation.

In an Illinois personal injury case, the value of a settlement or verdict is influenced by two primary factors: the liability of the involved parties, and the severity and types of damages suffered by the victim.

How Does Liability Affect the Value of the Claim?

While the standards for demonstrating liability vary somewhat depending on the type of case, in general, an injury victim must demonstrate that their injuries were caused by another party's negligence in order to recover any compensation through a personal injury claim. This means you will need to show that the other party owed you a duty of care and breached that duty, thereby creating the circumstances that caused your injuries.

Even if another party is liable for your injuries, the value of your claim may be reduced in a case involving contributory negligence, meaning that you were also partially responsible for your injuries. If you are found to be more than 50 percent responsible, you will be unable to recover compensation from other negligent parties. If your contributory negligence is determined to be 50 percent or less, you may still be able to recover some compensation, but the amount will decrease according to your percentage of fault. For example, if your damages total $100,000, but your contributory negligence is judged to be 10 percent, the maximum compensation you could recover would be $90,000.

How Do I Determine the Value of My Damages?

The other determining factor in the value of your case is the damages to which you are entitled, which may vary based on the nature and severity of your injuries. For example, catastrophic brain and spinal cord injuries will almost certainly result in larger settlements or verdicts than soft tissue injuries. In estimating the amount of your damages, it is important to consider all of the ways in which your injuries have impacted you financially, physically, and mentally. In Illinois, damages may be awarded for all of the following depending on the circumstances:

• Medical bills - This includes the costs of all relevant treatment for your injuries, such as emergency care, necessary surgery, medication, and rehabilitation. We typically wait for our client to be discharged from care before determining the appropriate amount of compensation to pursue to ensure that all expenses are accounted for. We also account for the costs of future care that has been recommended by a doctor in the case of a long-term injury.
• Lost wages - This includes the value of the pay and benefits that an injury victim loses while they are unable to work during their recovery from an injury. If an injury results in long-term or permanent disability, damages may also be awarded to compensate for the victim's loss of earning capacity throughout the rest of their working years.
• Pain and suffering - This includes negative physical and mental effects of injuries that do not have a clear monetary cost, otherwise known as noneconomic damages. We help you determine the value of your pain and suffering damages by examining jury awards from our own experience and other similar injury cases.
• Disfigurement - Noneconomic damages can also include compensation for injuries that result in permanent disfigurement, including the loss of a limb or other body part, or visible scarring that affects a person's appearance.
• Diminished activities - Another factor considered in the value of noneconomic damages is the limitations that your injuries place on your ability to maintain personal relationships, perform basic life tasks for yourself, and engage in activities that you enjoy.

Contact a Cook County Personal Injury Attorney

To learn more about the possible value of your case based on the specific details of your injuries, contact us today at 847-394-0100 or 312-236-2700 for a free initial consultation. We serve injury victims in Chicago, Arlington Heights, and throughout Cook County, including Rolling Meadows, Mount Prospect, Palatine, Skokie, and the surrounding areas.