How Much is a Permanent Personal Injury Worth?
If you were hurt in an accident because of someone’s reckless actions and now face permanent injuries, talk to the personal injury lawyers at Ellis Law. In our experience, injury claims involving long-term disability often result in high-dollar settlements.
“How much is my personal injury worth?” is one of the first questions our clients ask. While every case is unique, we can say with confidence that money damages typically increase for permanent injuries, especially when it comes to compensation for pain, suffering, and emotional distress.
Because many permanent injuries are disabling in nature, victims may be unable to return to work in the same capacity, which will also bump up the value of a claim.
Compensation paid on an injury claim is based on the total value of your damages: both economic and non-economic. Legal action lets you seek reimbursement for things like lost wages, medical expenses, loss of future earnings, as well as less tangible losses like pain and suffering.
What is a permanent injury worth?
There are some types of damages that are clearly defined. Let’s say you’re in a car accident with a distracted driver and your hip is broken. You would seek damages to cover your hospital bills, medical treatment, lost income, and associated expenses.
Permanent, or long-term impairments, on the other hand, will usually have ongoing costs, which makes them harder to calculate. How do you place a dollar figure on future medical care, loss of earning capacity, and the emotional trauma of being severely incapacitated for the rest of your life?
Your personal injury lawyer will look to expert testimony to find these answers. At Ellis Law, our team collaborates with healthcare specialists, economists, accountants, life care planners, and others who can make projections on the total losses you have and will continue to accrue.
Depending on the severity and consequences of the permanent disability, this can add up to millions of dollars.
A good attorney will look at not only “hard” costs associated with your injuries, but also the less subjective damages incurred. If you were once outgoing and athletic, and are now confined to a wheelchair, the quality of your life may be significantly diminished. If you are unable to enjoy the activities you did before the accident, your injury compensation may be higher.
Factors that influence permanent injury compensation
Beyond the skill of your attorney, the following variables will influence the amount of compensatory damages you receive for a permanent injury:
- Level and severity of disability: Given their long-term ramifications, traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, loss of limbs and sensory loss tend to net high damage awards
- Age at the time of the accident: A 25-year old will likely get more compensation than a 50-year-old since their injuries will affect a longer portion of their lives
- Ongoing medical costs: You deserve compensation for ongoing medical treatment, medications, adaptive medical devices, physical therapy, in-home nursing care, and other expenses.
- Loss of future wages: that would have been earned if the accident had not happened
- Disfigurement: Third-degree burns and/or permanent scars are particularly impactful when the victim’s profession relies heavily on appearance
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for pain and suffering is meant to address the ways the permanent injury has negatively affected your life. How has it impacted your ability to socialize, engage in favorite hobbies, play with your children, or perform daily tasks? Do you suffer from anxiety, depression, grief, or PTSD?
Ellis Law can properly value your injury claim
Obtaining fair compensation for a permanent injury caused by negligence should be a right, not a privilege. Victims cannot afford to accept less than they truly deserve, which means your choice of a lawyer is of utmost importance. At Ellis Injury Law, our litigators work hard to maximize the value of a claim to help our clients have the funds needed to pay for medical care, ongoing treatments, and other costs.
In our 25+ years of experience litigating complex injury claims, we have procured more than $350 million in legal compensation for our clients, and we are eager to put our resources and knowledge to work for you.
Talk to one of our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers about your case. The initial consultation is free, and there are no fees unless we secure money in your claim.