Factors that Affect the Value of Your Claim
A South Philadelphia personal injury attorney may not be able to tell you exactly you how much your case is worth, but he or she can explain that several factors go into this consideration. Once your South Philadelphia personal injury attorney collects information regarding the following areas, he or she may be able to give you a better estimate of the value of your case.
Medical Information
Your personal injury attorney needs to know the full amount of your medical bills. Additionally, he or she needs to know the source of these bills. For example, you may have documents that show the results of diagnostic tests and treatments. You may also have documents showing when you stayed in a hospital or attended physical therapy appointments. Evidence showing what type of medications that you were on should be included, including prescription pills and over-the-counter medication.
Permanence of Injuries
If the injuries are considered permanent, this information can impact the overall value of your claim. Additionally, disfigurement in the way of scars, burns or blemishes can impact the value of your case.
Effect of Personal Injury
Your attorney needs to know how your injury has affected aspects of your daily life. For example, you may be unable to complete certain activities that you previously enjoyed, including hobbies and leisure activities. You may also be unable to assist with household tasks and ordinary chores. Relationships may have suffered as a result of your impairment or depression related to the impairment.
Loss of Income
In some cases, the loss of income that victims suffer can comprise a significant portion of the damages in the case. In addition to straight income loss, your personal injury attorney will also want to know whether you had to use any sick leave or vacation time and whether you lost any insurance benefits due to the injury.
Liability
An important aspect of the case concerns liability. If you were partially to blame for the accident, this can have a negative impact on your case. Likewise, if the defendant’s liability is not clear, this can have a negative impact on your recovery. This evaluation involves an assessment of the facts as well as relevant laws.
Availability of Witnesses
Another important aspect of your case is whether there are any objective witnesses who are available to help support your case. Your South Philadelphia personal injury attorney will want to know just how these witnesses can testify, and their credibility.
Other Factors
Your South Philadelphia personal injury lawyer may discuss other factors that are particular to your specific case. For example, you may learn that the identity and settlement philosophy of the insurance company involved in the case can have a dramatic impact on the value of your claim. Your attorney can discuss the relative weight of each of these factors on your personal injury case.
Legal Assistance
For more information regarding the potential value of your claim, contact Anthony Caiazzo today.