When you’ve been injured through no fault of your own, your world can come to a halt, no matter what kind of injuries you have. A sprained neck or back can keep you out of work, require multiple trips to doctors and physical therapists, and prevent you from being able to pick up or hold your children. Broken bones and fractures can require lengthy hospital stays, multiple surgeries, lost time at work, and so much more.
When a personal injury attorney is evaluating your injury claim, the attorney will often ask detailed questions about your medical history, your injuries, and your medical treatment to-date. These questions help the attorney understand what you’ve been through and what the future might look like for you as a result of your injuries. All of this information is part of what the attorney uses to help determine the value of your personal injury claim. Ultimately, the amount of compensation you receive will depend on a variety of factors, but your injuries do play a role. We have compiled the below information to help you better understand how your injuries can impact the value of your claim and what other factors can impact the amount of compensation you receive for your personal injuries.
Will I Get More Money if I Have Severe Injuries Like Broken Bones, Fractures, or a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Early in a case, a personal injury attorney will often begin looking for ways to get their client compensated for their personal injuries and everything they have been through as a result of someone else’s negligence. Some sources of compensation may include auto insurance, premises liability insurance, umbrella insurance, other insurance policies, direct personal payments, and assets.
Unfortunately, there are times when the at-fault party does not have any insurance or assets available to pay for the damages they caused; other times, the at-fault party has only a minimum insurance policy; and at other times, the at-fault party is a corporation with a $1 million dollar insurance policy.
A personal injury attorney will work to find ways to get you compensated while also working to determine the value of your case. When estimating the value of your case, a personal injury attorney may look at:
- If the other party was clearly at-fault or if they will try and blame someone else for the incident
- What you have lost as a result of your injuries – this may include lost wages from work, money spent on medical bills and medical equipment, and more
- Long-term impacts of your injuries: Do you have permanent scarring or other permanent injuries? Will you need future medical treatment?
- Other factors
Is a Broken Arm Worth More than a Neck Sprain?
Typically (although not always), injuries involving breaks, fractures, or surgeries will require more extensive medical treatment than some other injuries such as neck sprains or strains. If your injuries include a broken arm, you may have medical bills from the ambulance that transported you to the hospital, the emergency room, the radiologist who did your arm x-rays, the orthopedic surgeon who performed your surgery, the anesthesiologist from the surgery, and the physical therapist you see for months afterwards. This can quickly add up to tens of thousands of dollars. If you have a neck sprain that resolves after one visit to your primary doctor and six weeks of chiropractic treatment, your medical bills will likely be much lower. Your medical bills are part of your personal injury claim, so your medical bills can affect the value of your claim.
Additionally, some injuries have long-lasting or permanent impacts. For example, some injuries result in permanent scarring, limps, arthritis, and more. If a doctor has told you that you need ongoing medical treatment because of your injuries or that you will need future surgeries, this can also affect the value of your claim.
Conclusion
If you’ve been injured, a personal injury attorney can help evaluate your claim, look for sources of compensation, and help you recover what you deserve for everything you’ve been through. At Burton Law Firm, we fight for you, and we’ll be there every step of the way. Our goal is to make sure you are protected now and for the future. If you’ve been injured, contact us today for a free consultation. We’ll talk with you, learn the facts of your case, and provide you with information on your legal rights and options.