When you make a personal injury claim after an accident, it can be tough to know how much your claim is worth. If you don’t know what can affect the worth of your claim, how do you know what kind of settlement offer is fair? You wouldn’t, which is why you should talk to a San Angelo, Texas burn injuries lawyer from our law firm before you accept anything from the insurance company.
Will My Claim Be Worth More in Court?
One question that some of our clients ask us is whether or not it is worthwhile to go to court. Can you get more money if you make your case in front of the judge and jury? You could, especially if you have some key factors in your favor. If you’re likable or sympathetic, you have serious injuries, and the evidence is in your favor, you could win an impressive verdict. You could even get punitive damages, if the jury finds the behavior of the defendant particularly egregious.
However, this is obviously not the only potential outcome of a trial. You could get less than the proposed settlement. You could lose and get nothing. So it’s important to think not only about the potential worth of your claim, but how it could play in front of a jury.
What Can Determine the Worth of My Lawsuit?
We touched on this a bit, but there are a few factors that can have a large impact on how much your personal injury claim is worth. Here are some of the things that will be considered when compensation is calculated:
- The severity of your injuries
- Whether your injuries will leave you with lasting health issues
- Whether you will be able to work in the same capacity as before
- If your injuries will scar or disfigure you
- The amount of evidence you have against the defendant
What If I Was Partly At Fault?
It’s also important to consider who is at fault for the accident and how clear that fault is. If you have a significant amount of evidence that shows how another party or multiple other parties share fault, that can help you negotiate a better settlement. If it’s not exactly clear who is at fault, then you have a bigger fight on your hands.
You also have to consider what can happen if you are determined to be at fault. If you contributed to the accident and are less than 51% to blame for it, then you can still sue for damages. However, your award will be reduced in accordance with your fault percentage. So if you win $200,000 but you’re determined to be 10% at fault, then you will receive $180,000 instead.
Schedule a Consultation
So if you have been hurt in an accident and you want to sue for damages, contact the Mathis Law Firm. We can schedule a free case consultation for you. There’s no obligation, so take the time to learn more about the potential worth of your claim and what a lawyer from our firm will do to help you fight for fair compensation.
