Are you wondering how much your personal injury case might be worth?
“My name is Brandon, I live in Coral Gables, Florida, and I got 1.5 million from my lawsuit settlement!”
All of us have seen the flashy advertisements on the TV and billboards from big-name law firms that tout the enormous settlements they have received for their clients. However, it is important to realize that this form of advertising can be misleading for two main reasons 1) these types of settlements aren’t usually the norm, and 2) just because someone was awarded 1.5 million for his or her case, this does not mean that the 1.5 million is the amount that he or she walked away with, as 1.5 million is likely just the gross settlement amount for the individual’s overall case (not accounting for medical bills, attorney’s fees, costs, etc.).
At The Eberst Law Firm we would like to inform you about the factors that go into determining a case’s settlement value, the importance of hiring an experienced personal injury attorney, and the average settlement amount for personal injury claims.
What determines a Personal Injury case’s settlement value in Florida?
The amount of money that a case settles for depends on several factors, including, but not limited to the below:
- The injuries you sustained
- The medical treatment related to your crash
- The insurance coverage that is available
- The insurance companies involved
- The liability and facts of the crash
Given the above factors, people are more likely (but not always guaranteed) to have a higher gross settlement value if the following is true: their injuries are severe and permanent, their treatment is consistent and initial doctors have referred them to more specialized doctors and they have undergone the physicians’ recommended procedures, they had no fault in the crash, and the insurance coverage is substantial and from a reputable insurance company.
However, the chance of all these factors (and even other factors that weren’t mentioned) lining up advantageously for an individual is relatively unusual, especially without the help of an experienced personal injury attorney.
Even further, each of these factors alone has its own set of complexities.
For instance, an individual could have sustained severe injures from a crash, but maybe he or she sustained the same or similar injuries years ago in another incident, which would mean that this individual has pre-existing injuries.
Perhaps the insurance company that is involved in a claim could be reputable, but a particularly demanding and stubborn adjuster is assigned to the file and is very difficult to deal with and is hindering the case’s progression.
Or maybe, someone could have been involved in a horrible crash where liability is 100% in his or her favor and the injuries are indisputably severe, but the insurance company could have reservations regarding paying out due to checking that person’s Facebook page and noting that he or she went on a skiing trip a week after the crash.
At The Eberst Law Firm, we have dealt with almost every type of complicated, unusual, or just flat out difficult type of claim you can imagine. We have learned from each of these cases, and we are prepared to utilize this knowledge to help you gain the compensation that you deserve from your personal injury claim.
The Importance of an Experienced Attorney in Personal Injury Claims
It essential to not overlook the most important element an individual can choose to maximize his/her case settlement: hire an experienced, dedicated, and knowledgeable personal injury attorney. For example, a dedicated attorney will work for you by straightening out any liability issues that may arise, such as if the other party is trying to assert that your own negligence contributed to some of your injuries. The legal term for this concept is “comparative negligence”, which is further explained in our blog post here, subsection “Comparative Negligence in a Slip and Fall case”. If comparative negligence is effectively proven by the other side, then your settlement will be reduced according to the percentage of negligence that is assigned to you. A thorough attorney who knows how to analyze each potential insurance company that could come into play will be vital in maximizing your overall potential settlement, since sometimes settlements are comprised of payouts from more than one insurance company. An experienced attorney knows what your claim is worth and is prepared to make sure that you are awarded the compensation that you deserve.
At The Eberst Law Firm, our attorneys have decades of experience in nearly all personal injury claims, including, but not limited to: car accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and falls, pedestrian accidents, bike accidents, wrongful death, and more. We pride ourselves on taking the time on each and every one of our cases to ensure that no facts are overlooked. We are prepared to fight for you to negotiate the highest possible settlement for you.
What is the average settlement amount for Personal Injury Claims?
Lawyers.com, affiliated with legal company Martindale-Hubbell, states that the average compensation received by recipients of a personal injury settlement is $52,900, but please read this while remembering the multiple factors go into this number. Further explained is that “settlements and court awards in personal injury cases typically range from $3,000 to $75,000”. They explain that 70% of people who pursue personal injury claims receive a settlement or award.
You may wonder why the other 30% don’t receive settlements, but the simple answer could be: that there is no insurance coverage available. Regarding auto accidents, it is very important that you understand the auto insurance coverage that you have so that you are protected in the event you are in an auto accident and the other party doesn’t have insurance coverage. Please read our article “Clarifying Full Auto Coverage” for more details.
Even more important, Lawyers.com shows a graph which outlines that the average settlement for individuals with an attorney is $77,600 and the average settlement for individuals without an attorney is only $17,600.
Contact The Eberst Law Firm for a Free Case Evaluation Today!
Call us today at 772-225-4900 for a free consultation and case evaluation. We would be honored to have the chance to assist you with your personal injury claim, and we are more than prepared to fight the hurdles that can present themselves with these sorts of claims.
Sources for “How much is my personal injury case worth?”
https://eberstlaw.com/evidence-slip-and-fall/
https://eberstlaw.com/pre-existing-injuries-and-florida-auto-accident-claims/
https://eberstlaw.com/social-media-and-personal-injury/
https://eberstlaw.com/4-types-car-accidents/
https://eberstlaw.com/pedestrian-accidents/
https://eberstlaw.com/slip-trip-and-fall/
https://eberstlaw.com/motorcycle-accidents/
https://eberstlaw.com/car-accidents/
https://eberstlaw.com/bike-accidents/
https://eberstlaw.com/wrongful-death/
