Average Personal Injury Settlement Amounts
As with anything about personal injury lawsuits, it can be very difficult to predict the amount of money you will receive for damages. This amount is based on a variety of factors that are specific to each case: the type and severity of the injury; state and local guidelines; the experience and quality of the attorneys involved. Each of these factors can drastically change the amount of money the court awards you in damages.
In the most general terms, the average personal injury settlement is between $3,000 and $75,000. Each case is so unique that it is nearly impossible to accurately predict how much money you will receive. However, understanding the different factors that go into a personal injury case can help you determine which side of the broad spectrum of damage averages your case will fall on.
Type of Injury
This is one of the most obvious factors and one that is usually easy to predict. If you receive a broken bone or another severe injury, it’s reasonable to predict that you will receive more in damages than if you just got whiplash. Minor injuries or injuries that don’t impact your everyday life as much will generally receive lower compensation.
Your Lawyer
An honest lawyer, no matter how experienced, cannot make your injury worse than it is. No amount of honest representation can turn a sprained neck into a severe spinal injury. However, a good lawyer will know how to advocate for you to ensure that you receive the maximum amount of damages for your injury. They will be able to use their knowledge of court procedures and past cases to help you get more money for your injury. If you want to receive more damages, paying for a good lawyer will help.
The Other Party’s Ability to Pay
The court can set the damage amount as high as they want, but the amount of money you will actually receive depends on how much the at-fault party can pay. If they do not have the resources to pay a $75,000 settlement, then they will appeal to get the damage amount lowered. This factor is completely out of your control but makes predicting your settlement amount very difficult.
If you are in an accident and are looking to receive damages to pay for medical expenses, contact a car accident attorney as soon as possible. Finding a good personal injury attorney like Legal Brevis to represent you is the best thing you can do to help get the money you deserve.