In the aftermath of an accident, it’s natural to wonder, “How much is my personal injury case worth in South Carolina?” A thorough understanding of factors influencing your potential compensation can help you. Additionally, an experienced personal injury attorney can estimate your case’s worth.
Assessing the Value of Your Personal Injury Claim
Insurance companies and courts consider several factors when assessing the value of personal injury claims. The following factors all affect how much money you can receive when filing a personal injury claim:
Extent of Injuries
The primary factors for determining the value of your case are the severity of your injuries and your resulting medical expenses. Consideration of your medical expenses will account for both your immediate medical costs and potential long-term expenses. The greater the extent and duration of your injuries, the greater the potential value of your claim. Additionally, those evaluating your claim will consider chronic pain, traumatic brain injury, permanent injuries and disabilities, and their impact on your daily life.
Lost Income
If your injuries prevent you from working or affect your ability to work in the future, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages and diminished earning capacity. You will need to provide detailed documentation to help insurance companies or the court estimate your lost earning potential accurately, and some cases may require expert testimony about your ability to perform certain types of work.
Pain and Suffering
The value of your care will also include non-economic damages, which is compensation for the intangible and subjective losses related to pain and well-being. Non-economic damages include any pain and suffering brought on by your injuries, the resulting loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress.
Although it can be challenging to place a dollar amount on your pain and suffering, these factors are important to consider when determining the true impact of your experience. They can impact the overall worth of your claim, potentially resulting in higher compensation to account for the effects of your injuries on your daily life and well-being.
Liability and Negligence
The fault carried by each party of an accident contributes to how much your personal injury lawsuit is worth. To establish fault and prove that the negligence or recklessness of another party directly caused your injuries, you (or your lawyer) must gather evidence like police reports, statements from witnesses, and expert opinions.
It is important to remember that South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence system. As a result, the compensation you can recover as an injured party after your accident may decrease if you were partially at fault for the accident. If you are more than 50% responsible, you will not be able to receive compensation from another party.
Insurance Policy Limits
You may find a cap on the maximum compensation you can receive from insurance, either through the at-fault party’s insurance or your own underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage. The at-fault party’s insurance policy will often limit the amount they can pay for a claim, which may not fully cover your damages. Your own insurance coverage and policies, including underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage, may provide additional compensation in these cases.
Other Factors Affecting Injury Settlement Amounts
In South Carolina, several other factors influence how much money you can recover for your personal injury settlement. Some considerations to keep in mind include:
Property Damage
You may be able to factor any property damage caused by the accident into your settlement offer amount. If you sustain significant damage, you may receive money to repair or replace the property. This can include your car, home, or other property. If the damage to your property is significant, the amount you receive may be, as well.
Pre-existing Conditions
If the accident affected any conditions you had prior, those worsened conditions may factor into your settlement amount. It can be challenging to separate new injuries from existing ones, and it can be difficult to determine the extent to which the accident exacerbated your pre-existing conditions. It’s crucial to seek immediate medical care and to discuss your pre-existing condition and worsened symptoms. Your doctor can provide the medical evaluations and detailed documentation. This evidence may impact the assessment of how the accident impacted your condition. They can also speak to the extent of treatment now required for the condition, which may also affect your settlement amount.
Working With An Attorney
Having an experienced personal injury attorney on your side can have a significant impact on the outcome of your case. This could potentially lead to a higher settlement amount. Experienced personal injury attorneys like Goings Law Firm, LLC can help you understand all the variables of your case and seek compelling evidence proving that you deserve full and fair compensation.
How to Estimate Compensation in Injury Cases
Assessing the value of injury claims can be difficult for some. While it is challenging to predict the value of your personal injury case, an experienced personal injury attorney can help. They will consider all elements of your situation and estimate how much your case might be worth. Two major steps you can take to determine how much your case might be worth are:
Documenting Your Damages
Maintain thorough documentation of all expenses linked to the accident. This includes any medical treatment and bills, receipts for repairs or replacements, and repair estimates. This also includes any other financial losses stemming from the incident.
Consulting With an Attorney Early On
Seeking help early on from a personal injury attorney who has experience handling cases in South Carolina can provide you with a realistic expectation of the compensation you might be able to recover from the beginning. In addition, they can act quickly to avoid missing crucial evidence and to comply with all deadlines. This includes South Carolina’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases.
Contact a Columbia, South Carolina Personal Injury Attorney Today
Still asking yourself “How much is my personal injury case worth?” if you are injured by someone else’s negligence? If you are dealing with injuries caused by an accident, you must act quickly to protect your rights by hiring legal representation. Contact our Columbia personal injury lawyers at Goings Law Firm, LLC at (803) 350-9230 right away to get started with a free case evaluation and consultation. Our attorneys can meet with you to discuss your case and how we can help you get justice and seek the compensation you deserve.
