This Week's Top Stories About Personal Injury Compensation
How to Get the Compensation You Deserve in a Personal Injury Settlement It's not unusual for medical bills to rapidly become out of control following an accident. It is essential to be aware of your options and get the amount of compensation you're entitled to. One option is to try to obtain an injury-related settlement. The amount you can get depends on many factors, including your injuries as well as the liability of the other party. Medical expenses Personal injury cases typically involve medical expenses. They can vary from just a few hundred dollars up to several thousand based on the severity of the injuries and the extent to which continuing treatment is required. In most cases, victims will be compensated for current medical bills, as well as future care costs. This includes doctor visits, medications, physical therapy or ambulance rides, hospitalization and other care costs. However there are a few things that accident victims need to be aware of when making claims for these expenses. First, the expenses must be documented to ensure that the settlement amount can be determined. The next step is to give all receipts and medical records to the lawyer representing the plaintiff. These documents will assist the attorney know how much money you have already spent and what future treatments could cost. Your attorney may need to have an expert witness to provide testimony about your injuries. The person may not have provided treatment to you however, but they will be able to determine the treatment that is required and the time it will take to recover. After the claim has been settled, your medical expenses will be covered by the settlement or jury verdict that is awarded to you. In certain cases your health insurer could claim a lien against your settlement to recover funds it paid on your behalf for your medical expenses. This is referred to as subrogation. The lien could reduce the amount you get from the defendant, which will include any other case expenses or attorney's fees too. Finally, it is important to remember that the insurer of the defendant will attempt to reduce the value of your medical expenses if they're determined to be “unreasonably high.” This is often referred to as the “nickel-and-diming” method. The best method to avoid this is to be open about your losses in the beginning of the case. The personal injury lawyer will make sure that you get every penny you are entitled to in compensation. personal injury lawyer gulfport of wages Personal injuries can result in the loss of wages which can cause financial catastrophe. It can be difficult to find ways of paying your bills while recovering from an injury sustained at workplace, or from an accident in the car. In this regard, it's crucial to know how lost wages are calculated and proven in a personal injuries claim. The most important thing is to prove that you weren't able to work at your normal job and that the amount of time you were absent from work was directly connected to the accident. You can prove lost wages by obtaining the documents from the employer. Ask your employer for an official statement that lists your name, job title and pay rate as well as the number of days you worked each week prior to and after the accident. Also, you should include your pay stubs or other evidence of earnings to back up your claim. A personal injury lawyer can assist you get the evidence you require to prove lost wages. These documents include your pay stubs along with tax returns and other evidence that shows the amount of money you would have earned during the time you were unable to work. You can also receive compensation for overtime, tips or bonuses in addition to base lost wages. The formula for calculating these is the same as with base lost wages, however you'll need to prove that you were unable to utilize them due to your injuries sustained in accidents. Depending on your injuries, you might also have to prove your lost earning potential. This is the amount you could have earned if weren't injured and could continue working at your current job. Calculating lost earning capacity is more difficult than proving lost wage. It requires considering how long you're unable to work and the worth of your benefits. It is a good idea to discuss this with an attorney who specializes in personal injury prior to settling your case, so you know how much you'll be compensated for any future loss of income. A competent personal injury lawyer has the knowledge and resources to ensure that you receive all of the money you're due after a serious car accident. For a no-cost consultation, contact us today to find more about how we can assist with your personal injury case. Property damage If you have been in an accident, you could be entitled to compensation for property damage. This includes damage to your car or home, as well as any other property damaged by the accident. You can recover money from someone who caused damage to your property through negligence or recklessness. A manufacturer of products could be held accountable if they sold you defective equipment that caused damage to your vehicle or home. When an attorney for personal injury works on your case, he will ensure that you get all the compensation you are entitled to. This includes money for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages that you might have suffered as a result of the accident. You could be eligible to receive more or less dependent on the severity of your injuries, and the circumstances surrounding the accident. Your lawyer will assess the extent of your injuries, and help you determine an amount for settlement. While you may be inclined to accept the first offer offered by an insurance company however, it is recommended to negotiate. A skilled attorney can facilitate negotiations and make them more productive. Your personal injury lawyer is able to calculate your non-economic and economic damages. This is a more comprehensive way to measure your financial losses. The non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other losses. After your lawyer has calculated the damages, you will need a demand from the insurance company. This is the amount that your lawyer believes you are entitled to in compensation for the damage you've sustained. The final step is to gather all the evidence you require to support your request. Photographs, witness statements and other forms of documentation are all acceptable. Many people are shocked to find out that it takes a long time for a personal injury case to be resolved. In reality, half of our readers resolved their cases within two months or one year, while 30 percent waited more than a year before their claims could be settled. Pain and suffering In the case of personal injury settlements, the suffering and pain can be considered to be a non-economic class. These damages can include physical and emotional discomfort caused by an injury. These damages are difficult to quantify, so it is important that you gather evidence to demonstrate the severity of your injuries and the impact they've had on your life. In some cases, these economic damages are more significant than the financial compensation you receive for medical bills and lost wages. For instance, if suffered a major back injury and now have constant pain the quality of your life has been significantly reduced. The extent of your losses is a significant factor when determining how much you will be given in a settlement. In general the more severe and traumatic the injuries, the higher the settlement. Proving the extent of your injury an extremely difficult task, however it is possible with the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney. Your medical records can provide valuable evidence, as are statements from your doctor and mental health professionals. Testimony from family members and friends members also can give valuable insight into how your injuries have affected your life. They can be witnesses to the emotional and physical trauma you have experienced in addition to any changes in your personality or behavior. Insurance companies usually use two methods to calculate the amount of the plaintiff's pain and damages. The most popular method is the “multiplier” that uses an amount of 1.5 to 5. To get a sense of how a multiplier can affect your case, let's take an example of a plaintiff who suffers an injury that requires extensive medical care and a year-long recovery process. She is forced to miss five weeks of work and has to pay $10,000 in medical bills. This multiplier will likely result in her obtaining $3.2 million. In addition to this amount, she would be eligible for pain and suffering/non-economic damages that equal $64,800 (180 days of suffering multiplied by $360 per day). The most effective method to show your pain and damages is to engage a qualified personal injury attorney who is knowledgeable of the law and has experience dealing with insurance companies. They can gather evidence and argue your case in front of an impartial jury.