Every personal injury case is unique because everyone’s injuries and losses are different. We cannot merely throw out a random number to represent the financial value of your South Carolina personal injury case. We will need to perform an investigation and talk to you before we can determine the answer to the question, how much is my South Carolina personal injury case worth?
You will want to talk to a South Carolina personal injury attorney about how to protect your legal right to compensation from the person whose negligence caused your injuries. A lawyer can take care of the “heavy lifting” on your personal injury case so that you can focus on resting and getting better.
Past Medical Expenses
The amount of medical bills you incurred for the treatment of your wounds will be a significant factor in determining how much your South Carolina personal injury case is worth. A person with $80,000 in medical bills from an accident or illness is likely to receive a much larger settlement or jury verdict than someone who has only a few hundred dollars in medical bills or did not get medical treatment.
Anticipated Future Medical Expenses
If your treating physician feels that you will need future medical treatments because of your wounds, we can add the anticipated cost of that intervention to your personal injury claim. Generally, it is best not to settle your injury claim until you have completed all of your prescribed treatment; however, if you need a series of procedures, like scar revision and plastic surgery from burns, that process could take several years.
Past Lost Wages
This category encompasses paychecks you did not receive because you could not go to work while recuperating from your injuries. Also, when you could not be on the job because of medical treatments like surgery or physical therapy and the time you needed to recover from those things, lost income for those events can be recoverable.
Diminished Earning Capacity
Some people have ongoing issues after completing their medical treatment. They might have chronic pain or weakness. These things can impact the amount of money a person can earn on the job. They might need to take a lower-paying position at work, get a job with a different employer, or work fewer hours because of their impairment. Diminished earning capacity can lead to financial hardship.
What is “Pain and Suffering” in a South Carolina Personal Injury Claim?
The word pain in the term pain and suffering refers to exactly what it sounds like, physical discomfort. You might have hurt for weeks or months after the accident. Suffering can refer to the inconvenience that the accident and injuries placed on your life and schedule. Also, a person might suffer with emotional upset from the traumatic experience of the accident and their worries about what the future will hold for them.
Other Intangible Losses
A common cause of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is motor vehicle accidents and other traumatic events. When a person develops PTSD because of an accident, that can be a recoverable loss. An individual could receive monetary damages for disfigurement if they developed extensive or highly visible scars from their injuries. These are merely two examples of the many things that can constitute intangible losses in a South Carolina personal injury claim case.
You can get started with a South Carolina personal injury attorney today. The initial consultation is free, and there is no obligation. Contact our office today for legal help.