What Will My Personal Injury Claim Be Worth?
The value of your case will turn on a variety of factors, including the nature of your accident, the extent of your injuries, and the financial resources of the company or person who is responsible.
Because legal claims are so complex, the most important thing you can do is (1) hire an attorney who you feel is competent and will look out for you, and (2) do everything you can to make sure that attorney has all the information needed to thoroughly evaluate, negotiate, and (if necessary) litigate your case.
Types of Damages Recoverable
One factor that will influence the value of your case is the damages you are entitled to seek. This is dependent on the nature of your injuries and the kinds of legal claims you are entitled to assert.
Assume, for example, that you have been seriously injured in a car accident in Houston. If you hire Morrow & Sheppard LLP to handle your claim, your attorney will carefully review your file to determine whether you have an actionable case.
In assessing your case, your lawyer will consider both your “economic” and “non-economic” damages. Economic damages represent your monetary losses, such as medical bills, lost wages, and damages to personal property. Non-economic damages include damages from pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, mental anguish, disfigurement, and physical impairment.
Depending on the nature of your automobile accident, your lawyer may also consider whether a claim for punitive damages is appropriate in your case. Punitive damages are generally only awarded where the defendant’s actions are particularly reckless or dangerous.
Case Valuation Is Complex
While the Houston personal injury attorneys at Morrow & Sheppard LLP will undertake a thorough evaluation of your claim (i.e. a Jones Act claim), no attorney can guarantee the dollar amount that you will ultimately receive for your injuries. If a law firm promises you a specific recovery or favorable result, you should be very wary of hiring the firm to handle your claim. An honest personal injury attorney will explain that many different variables can impact the outcome of your case. He or she should take you through the valuation process so that you have a realistic assessment of your case. Your lawyer should also provide straightforward answers to your questions and give you a clear understanding of all legal avenues that may be available to you.
In our personal injury practice, we see a great number of potential clients who want us to tell them exactly what their case is worth. Regardless of whether your claim involves a simple slip and fall accident or a complex work injury, such as a plant explosion or an oilfield accident, when you meet with the lawyers at Morrow & Sheppard LLP for an initial consultation, you should not expect your attorney to predict precisely what your case is worth. Rather, you should spend your time carefully reviewing your accident and injuries with your lawyer, and spend time asking the questions you need in order to determine whether the attorney is the right personal injury lawyer for you.
Contact us now for a free, confidential consultation.