‘How much personal injury compensation should I expect?” This is a common question from clients who have asked us to represent them in an accident case. Most people want to know “how much”, but there are several factors to consider when looking at personal injury compensation. As an experienced Fort Lauderdale personal injury compensation attorney, we look at all of these factors:
- Types of Compensation
- Damage Considerations
- Documentation
Types of Compensation
There are three types of reimbursement to be considered in a Fort Lauderdale personal injury compensation case.:
- Medical Expenses. This encompasses all of the expenses accrued from your injury. It includes ambulance rides, emergency care, follow-up appointments, and visits to specialists. Medical expense calculations should also include projections for long-term care and rehabilitation.
- Lost Wages. Did your injury cause you to miss time at work? If so, lost wages should be included in the compensation for your injury. Lost wage projections need to be carefully researched, and not just averaged out by an insurance adjuster. Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury compensation team has years of experience helping our clients recover lost wages.
- Pain and Suffering. This is defined as physical and mental distress from an accident. The payout for pain and suffering is the most difficult type of damage to calculate. Each case is unique, and the pain and suffering takes many variables into consideration:
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Permanence of injury
- Physical impairment, like blindness.
- Accidental death
Damage Considerations
When determining personal injury compensation, Lisa S. Levine and her team of Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys also looks at these factors:
- Extent of medical treatment
- Invasiveness of treatment
- Magnitude of rehabilitation
- Long-term pain management needs
- Duration of suffering
- Impact on daily life
- Viability before and after accident
- Extent of negligent choices made by party who injured you
Negligence is a key term and one that can have a big impact on the compensation in a personal injury case. Negligence is a legal term that means failing to act in a safe manner. A negligent party acts outside of what a safe and careful person would do. Excessive negligence will often lead to larger settlements.
Injury Victim
Documentation
How does documentation play a role in a personal injury case? Documentation is the foundation of information that helps our Fort Lauderdale injury lawyers builds your case. The more information, the better we can paint a detailed picture of your case. Some important information to gather includes:
- Police Reports
- Images from the accident scene
- Interviews with witnesses
- Damage quotes
- Missed employment records
- Medical expenses and diagnosis
- Medical treatment plans
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury Cases
What if I Can’t Afford to Pay for Medical Treatment?
Unfortunately, many victims of accidents can’t afford to pay their bills, even if they have health insurance. In some cases, a physician will treat accident victims on promise of payment from the recovery. Our firm can help you find medical assistance that will work with your situation until your case is resolved.
Should I Release My Medical Records to the Insurance of the Other Driver?
No, you should not release your medical records to anyone else until you speak to a personal injury attorney. Giving too much information could hurt your case, and make you ineligible for some settlements that may have otherwise been an option.
Do I Need to Call the Police if I Am in an Accident?
Yes, for your protection you should call the police after any accident in which there was an injury or minor damage to vehicles. A police report is an important part of an accident claim.
Get Help from a Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Compensation Attorney
With as much detail as possible, Lisa S. Levine will work hard to bring justice to your case, and bring you a timely settlement. If you have been injured in Fort Lauderdale or the surrounding area, call 954-256-1820 today to schedule an appointment and learn more about personal injury compensation.
