Canoga Park Bike Accident Attorney
After suffering an injury, it is natural to desire compensation for your suffering. Luckily, the law in on your side. Personal injury cases are designed to hold anyone who may have caused another’s injuries accountable. One of the very first questions that many people consider once medical treatment is finished is “What is my case worth?” It is a natural question to ask and this guide will help you answer this question.
Adjusting Your Mindset
The laws surrounding personal injury cases aim to return the victim to the financial state he or she was in prior to the injury. It is easy to fall into the trap of trying to figure out how you can get the most payoff as possible in your lawsuit, but this is not the right way to think. Additionally, it is not a very realistic expectation either. The law is supposed to be just and fair, and that includes being fair to the defendant, even if he or she did cause your injuries. So, the answer to the question of what your case is worth is this: Your case is worth exactly how much you lost due to your injuries.
Types of Damages
There are three types of damage:
- Special Compensatory Damages
- General Compensatory Damage
- Punitive Damages
Special compensatory damages refer to anything that has an objective, tangible monetary value. Your hospital bill, for example, falls into this category because it has an exact monetary value. If you paid $500, then its value is $500.
General compensatory damages refer to anything that does not have an exact monetary value. Pain and suffering or emotional trauma falls into this category. The judge decides the value of general compensatory damages. For example, the judge may rule that the painful experience of your injury is worth $1,000.
Punitive damages are an amount of money the defendant must pay as a punishment. It is not linked to the plaintiff’s experience or injury and the plaintiff has no control over it. Punitive damages are very rare for personal injury cases. In all likelihood, your case will be valued at your special plus general compensatory damages.
Settling
Most cases end in a settlement, rather than the court coming to a ruling. You should expect to receive an offer, which you can accept to save time and legal fees, or reject. A settlement amount is usually slightly lower than what would be gained in court, but this may be worth it for the benefits of settling. Your Canoga Park bike accident attorney will be able to advise you on whether or not to accept a settlement offer.
Contact Barry P. Goldberg for their insight into personal injury claims and legal negligence.
