Personal Injury/Wrongful Death  

Claim Evaluation of a Personal Injury Case

The way in which personal injury cases are evaluated by insurance companies and the judicial system vary depending on the nature of the case.  There are both quantitative and qualitative elements that affect how your case is evaluated, and whoever is assessing your case, may overlook important elements.  While insurance companies do a fair job at evaluating personal injury claims, they use a financial and statistical model to evaluate cost.  Seeking advice from an experienced personal injury attorney immediately after your accident or injury will help you to better understand how you can use elements of your case to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

If you seek council from a personal injury attorney, he or she will review several qualitative elements that may affect the value of your case.  

These elements are:

• Bodily injuries sustained from the accident or injury
• Physical pain or mental anguish that may continue following the accident
• Disfigurement, deformity, humiliation or embarrassment
• Inconveniences, in the present and future, brought on by the injury

A personal injury attorney will also carefully review quantitative elements of your case with you.  These elements are often overlooked and may serve to ensure your case is evaluated accurately.  

These elements are:

• Medical expenses incurred that may continue into the future
• Income lost by being out of work following the accident or injury
• Predicted future income loss resulting from the accident or injury

Your personal injury attorney will also advise you to document your daily experiences following the accident or injury.  Oftentimes, a personal injury case may not go before a judge and jury until three years after the accident occurs.  This is why it is extremely important keep a detailed journal of the injuries you have suffered.  Record detailed and emotional statements of how you feel each day following the incident.  Be sure to include information on what types of medication you’re taking and for how long.  Photo documentation is also very beneficial in the courtroom.  Pictures taken at the scene of the accident are important, but photos illustrating progression and worsening since the injury are equally as significant when determining the value of your case.

These are just several important elements of claim evaluation.  There are many more reasons why it is essential for someone involved in an injury or accident to seek representation from a personal injury attorney.  Many people do not know exactly how cases are evaluated in the courtroom.  A personal injury attorney will explain these elements to you, and help you to obtain the true value of your personal injury claim.