As a prominent black-owned, veteran-owned personal injury law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina, we represent victims as they navigate their personal injury claim following an accident. Oftentimes, our clients are burdened by the strict requirements set forth by North Carolina law and are unsure of how to secure the compensation they deserve. Acknowledging this, we have centered our practice around our clients’ well-being and meeting their unique needs following an injury. Many people wonder, “do I have a personal injury case?” and if so, what is my personal injury claim worth? This guide serves as a starting point for individuals who are considering filing a personal injury claim to obtain compensation.
Do I Have a Personal Injury Case?
After an injury, it is common to have questions regarding whether or not you have a personal injury case. Unfortunately, there is a lack of clear, reliable, and accessible information on how the legal system works in these cases. This can leave victims of injuries unsure of where to turn for assistance and therefore hurts their chances of recovering damages following their accident.
- Understanding the basic elements of a personal injury claim is essential to answering the question of whether or not you have a viable personal injury case. To recover financial compensation following an injury, you will be required to prove the following:
- That the party responsible for the accident was acting negligibly, meaning that their carelessness was to blame for the incident. For example, if a driver caused an accident due to running a red light, they will be considered negligent under the law.
- The responsible party’s negligence caused the personal injury. In the above example, if the innocent victim endured a spinal cord injury due to the accident, it can be said that the driver’s negligence caused the injury.
There was harm caused by the injury, such as medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering. These damages can be mitigated with financial compensation.
If you believe that these elements are present in your situation, you can seek compensation through a personal injury claim. Initiating a personal injury case is quite simple, requiring a person to file “summons” and “complaint” documents with their local North Carolina court. The specific steps of this process are set forth in Rule 4 of the North Carolina Civil Procedure.
What Is My Personal Injury Claim Worth?
After understanding whether they have a valid personal injury case, the next most common question we receive from prospective clients is, “what is my personal injury claim worth?” This inquiry is more difficult to answer, largely due to the fact that every compensation package is different. The amount of financial compensation available to a personal injury victim depends on the unique circumstances of their case, including the extent of their injuries and the impact of the accident on their income, for example. An experienced personal injury attorney may be able to provide a rough estimate of what your personal injury claim is worth based on their prior results in other cases.
The value of your claim also depends on the type of compensation that you can obtain. Compensation in personal injury claims may be able for both economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Outstanding and future medical expenses
- Lost income and wages due to missing work
- Potential lost income in the future due to disability
- Pain and suffering
- Damage or destruction of property
A rough estimate of the value of your personal injury claim can be made. If your injuries were minor to moderate, add up your total economic damages and multiply that value by 1.5 or 2 to account for pain and suffering. If your injuries were severe and/or resulted in permanent disability or disfigurement, multiply your total economic damages by 4 or 5. This number may increase substantially in some cases, such as drunk driving accidents. Ultimately, while this method is not entirely accurate, it can help you understand how a jury or insurance company may value your personal injury claim.
How Can Edwards Injury Law Help?
At Edwards Injury Law, we advocate for the rights of victims of accidents and handle each personal injury case with the fullest level of compassion and care. Combining our breadth of experience with our unique expertise, we have been able to secure full and fair compensation for personal injury victims. Filing a claim and obtaining compensation is far from simple and we work diligently to make the process easier and faster for our clients. To learn more about how we can help, consider contacting our office today.
