Were you or a loved one seriously injured in an accident in the San Joaquin Valley? Whether it was a car crash, slip and fall, or any other type of incident, it is imperative that you are able to secure maximum financial compensation. You need money to pay bills and support your family.
You may want to know: How much is my personal injury claim worth? The answer depends on many case-specific factors. Here, our San Joaquin Valley personal injury attorney highlights the four key factors that determine how much compensation you will recover.
Liability
Liability matters. Without proving liability, you cannot hold another party—or their insurance company—legally liable for your accident. In most personal injury cases, liability is determined based on negligence. The Judicial Council of California Civil Jury Instructions defines negligence as the failure to take due care. Every accident should be thoroughly investigated by an experienced San Joaquin Valley personal injury attorney. Your lawyer will gather the evidence you need. As California operates under a comparative negligence system of liability, every percentage point of blame matters. Even if you are held liable for a small share of your own accident, it will reduce the value of your case.
Economic Damages
In California, a personal injury settlement/verdict is largely compensatory. The foundation of your compensation will be your economic damages. Economic damages refer to the tangible financial losses incurred as a result of the injury. These can include medical bills, loss of earnings due to time off work, and any future expenses related to the injury, such as ongoing medical treatment or rehabilitation costs. Be sure that these damages are well-documented.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are also important. Also known as general damages, these refer to the non-financial losses caused by the injury. Among other things, non-economic losses can include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and other intangible harms. While harder to quantify, these damages can be substantial and significantly affect the claim’s value.
Your Personal Injury Claims Strategy
The strategy you employ when pursuing your claim can greatly influence its value. At the end of the day, it matters less about what your claim is worth in theory than about what you actually recover in reality. It is imperative that you have a skilled and experienced San Joaquin Valley personal injury attorney on your side. Your lawyer will protect your rights and take action to hold the defendant/insurance company accountable.
Contact Our San Joaquin Valley Personal Injury Lawyer for a Free Case Review
At Redkey Gordon Law Corp, our San Joaquin Valley personal injury attorneys know how to get results in complex cases. If you have any questions about the value of your case, we can help. Contact us today to set up your free, no-obligation consultation. We represent victims throughout the San Joaquin Valley, including in Stockton, Lodi, Manteca, and Sutter Creek.