What Is My Case Worth?

On Behalf of | Jun 24, 2022 | Personal Injury

The process of determining the value of a personal injury claim is essentially pretty straight-forward, but can get complicated when inputing all of the unique facts of the case. In order to estimate the settlement value of your personal injury case, we must first do a financial and legal analysis of all the elements leading up to and stemming from your situation. The top-notch team of personal injury lawyers and support staff from Kaire & Heffernan will gather and compile all necessary information and figures into a comprehensive package that addresses every conceivable inquiry and defense. Our personal injury settlement calculator can assist you in determining the value of your personal injury case.

Here at Kaire & Heffernan, it is our firm belief that each of our clients that was harmed due to another person’s negligence deserves to get closure. They should receive compensation for any medical expenses or pain and suffering so they can continue the healing process. Our settlement calculator tool can assist you in determining whether to pursue a case or come to the conclusion that the time and energy is not worth it.

Once you complete and submit the personal injury calculator form, our attorneys will use your information to compute an estimated personal injury settlement value. You can then choose to pursue a claim on your own, through our law firm, or decide the settlement value is too low to put much effort into trying to win. While there are several variables to consider, this settlement calculator simply inputs the numbers and then allows you to make the tough decisions on your own.

However, after having an experienced personal injury lawyer evaluate the value of your unique personal injury claim, you will see how useful having them on your side can be. A good lawyer will have the expertise to identify and calculate damages in a way that will maximize the value of your claim.

If you have a case and want to know how much it is worth, read on to find out how compensation is determined.

Pedestrian Accident, Bike Accident, and Car Accident Settlement Calculator

If you or a loved one has been harmed, has had property damaged, or suffered any other kind of loss due to an accident, you may seek compensation from the person or persons who caused or contributed to those losses. Damages are the legal term for this sort of compensation.

In situations involving a car striking a pedestrian, bike, or another car, there can be grave injury and severe property damages. These things are taken into account by a personal injury settlement calculator.

Personal Injury Amount

The way to calculate a personal injury settlement is by adding up all of the medical expenses, both already paid and future billings, taking into account lost wages, and then considering pain and suffering and other factors. Here are some things that may make a difference to personal injury settlement calculators:

Did Fire Rescue Treat You at the Scene?

Firefighters are trained to use specialized equipment to assist people who have become trapped in their vehicles following an accident. Firefighters assist in managing the situation, rescuing victims, controlling traffic, and providing medical care in a car accident case.

It is critical for you, as the sufferer of an injury, to be aware of the events that followed their rescue of you. If the accident needed the guidance and assistance of the fire department, it can attest to the seriousness of the injuries and damages.

Were You Transported to the Hospital?

An ambulance with emergency medical professionals is dispatched to a car accident site regularly. However, not every injured party takes advantage of this benefit. If you are not in severe discomfort or don’t have visible injuries, declining a medical evaluation may appear to be more convenient and frugal.

However, if you decline to take an ambulance ride to the hospital for treatment after being injured, your injury claim may be compromised. Driving yourself instead of relying on professional medical personnel for transportation or refusing immediate care can provide the insurance company with the grounds that say their injuries weren’t severe enough for compensation.

Did You Suffer Any Fractures?

Fractures are one of the most serious injuries that people can suffer in vehicle accidents, falls, and other incidents. They’re also one of the most prevalent injuries mentioned in personal injury claims. There are two kinds of fractures: open and closed.

In an open fracture, the bone pierces the skin whereas, in a closed fracture, there is no skin wound. Fractures generally occur on the arms, legs, hands, feet, ribs, or other regions of the body.

When looking for fractures, it’s important to check for ligament or tendon injuries as well. Injuries to your muscles, tendons, and ligaments are unpleasant and difficult to cure. They usually happen on the shoulder, hips, or other parts of the body.

Will You Have Scars?

In the state of Florida, if someone’s carelessness in a vehicle accident caused your scarring or disfigurement, you may be able to get compensation. A face that is disfigured or scarred may have a significant impact on your life. It might influence how others perceive you and make it more difficult to get a job, interact socially, and move about your community. Beyond that, scarring and disfigurement can also transform how you view yourself and result in mental and emotional issues.

In Florida, not every scar is classified as disfigurement, but if you can show that you have a permanent scar, it is up to a jury to decide whether it is a disfigurement that will affect your life. The truth is that insurance companies pay more money if they believe your case has a chance of going to a jury.

Did You Suffer a Neck or Back Injury?

Neck and back injuries are highly detrimental in their own right, disrupting your life in almost every way. If you’ve been hurt in a motor vehicle accident in Florida, it’s your legal right to seek the highest possible compensation.

Settlement values for those who have a herniated disc as a result of an automobile accident are usually high. Severe spine injuries often necessitate extensive treatment and rehabilitation so the victim’s whole life might be affected. Recovering fair compensation for your current and future medical expenses is an excellent way to ensure you get the treatment you require and can provide comfort in the future.

Herniated disc compensation amounts differ dramatically, ranging from $300,000 to $1,575,000. Unfortunately, there is no typical herniated disc settlement in Florida after a vehicle accident and each case will be different.

In calculating settlements for any of these incidents involving cars in Florida, you must provide the following data on our personal injury settlement calculator:

  • Amount of medical bills paid to date: Florida law allows a jury to consider the whole amount of medical bills incurred for treatment associated with someone else’s negligence in determining that person’s pain and suffering as a result of those injuries. The jury also sets a sum of money for the person’s medical bills, regardless of any discounts given by the healthcare providers.
  • Estimated future medical expenses: The costs of future medical procedures, including, but not limited to diagnosis, testing, treatment, surgical operations, rehabilitation, and therapy for the injuries you sustained in the accident
  • Amount of lost wages: The money you would have earned at work had you not been injured in the accident is referred to as lost wages or lost income. Any employee, whether full-time or part-time, who works regularly or occasionally, makes an hourly wage, a weekly wage, or receives a monthly salary can be eligible to claim lost wages.Furthermore, other employer benefits, like bonuses, gratuities, overtime pay, and the value of sick days and vacation days used to recuperate from your injuries, are all considered lost income.
  • Anticipated amount of future lost earnings: The difference between what the individual would have earned if they had not been injured and what they can now earn owing to their injuries and limitations is the present value of future lost earnings. Make sure you take into account all income, including retirement contributions, investment earnings, interest, and cost of living increases.
  • Name of at-fault driver’s insurance company
  • Your Age

Property Damage Amount

The amount of compensation you get for property damage is determined by two factors: the extent of damage to your property and the terms of your insurance policy. In Florida, drivers must have $10,000 worth of property damage liability coverage. Generally, your insurance company will cover the cost of any property damage in repairs, total reimbursement, lost value, lost items, and even fuel costs (in the case of a car accident).

However, if the other driver was at fault and you incurred significant injuries in addition to property losses, you may be eligible for compensation from their insurance provider.

While your automobile or bike is being repaired, your insurance policy should cover the cost of a rental vehicle or bike. Even if you don’t need a rental car or bike, victims may be reimbursed for transportation expenses while their cars or bikes are in the repair shop.

Keep in mind that obtaining a written quote from your trusted bike repair or auto shop is the most effective way to document your property damage claim.

The typical amount stated among Florida legal sources for vehicle accident settlements is between $10,000 and $60,000 or more. Settlement amounts, of course, are determined by a variety of criteria. For example, the amount of your property damage is determined by the type of accident it was. The following are some of the types of accidents considered in a car accident or bike accident claim in Florida, as well as other factors that affect the amount of your compensation:

Rear-End Collision

A rear-end accident, also known as being “rear-ended,” happens when the front bumper of one car collides with the back end of another vehicle. While the tailing driver is typically to blame in these collisions, either or both parties may be held liable for negligence.

Intersection Collision

Speeding, running red lights and stop signs, and failure to yield the right-of-way when turning left at intersections are some of the main causes of intersection accidents. These collisions may lead to T-bone accidents or rear-end accidents, and they can be deadly. At intersections, some careless drivers make fatal mistakes that result in head-on collisions.

Side Swipe

A sideswipe accident occurs when two cars are going in the same direction and one slides into the other car and hits the side. Due to our many multi-lane roads, sideswipe accidents are rather typical in Florida.

T-Bone

Side-impact collisions, commonly known as T-bone accidents or right-angle collisions, result from the front of a vehicle striking the side of another.

Premise Liability/Negligent Security

Premises liability law is the body of law that covers accidents or incidents that take place on public property or private property owned by someone else. Slip and fall accidents are the most frequent type of premises liability claims. A slip and fall accident is an instance in which a person falls or trips on someone else’s property, such as a store, business, public street or sidewalk, private home, etc. When property owners or other responsible parties fail to deal with potentially hazardous circumstances that lead to an injury-causing fall, they can be held liable for the personal injury victim’s damages.

Negligent security involves circumstances where security measures should have been in place, but for whatever reason, the owner failed to provide adequate protection, and as a consequence, someone was the victim of assault or theft. In these situations, a victim may pursue property owners for compensation. To obtain a fair settlement for your case, keep in mind other important details, including the name of the company responsible for your injuries, if there were any witnesses, the time of day, and so on. Here are some additional facts to look for:

Did you slip on a substance or trip over an object?

It’s critical to grasp the differences between a slip and fall and a trip and fall. A slip and fall accident takes place when a person’s footing is lost on a slippery surface, causing them to fall to the ground. Many different types of surfaces might contribute to slip and fall accidents, but the following are some of the most frequent offenders:

  • Wet floors
  • Waxed floors
  • Carpets and rugs that are loose or tattered
  • Poor traction on carpets
  • Icy walkways
  • Muddy paths

Slips and falls are often the cause of the following injuries:

  • Joint sprains
  • Spinal cord injuries, back discomfort, and nerve damage
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Shoulder fractures
  • Hips that are bruised, sprained or fractured

Tripping and falling, on the other hand, describes a person tumbling forward. A trip and fall accident occurs when someone is walking and stumbles upon an obstacle in their path that should not have been there. In this case, one of their feet gets caught on the obstacle in the way, causing them to fall forward. Common causes of unintentional trip and falls include:

  • Stairs and street curbs that have been elevated
  • Sidewalks that are cracked or uneven
  • Jutting out furniture on a walkway
  • Low light that hides things in the user’s path
  • Hazardous objects strewn in a walkway

Trips and falls are often the cause of the following injuries:

  • Twisted, sprained, or fractured ankles and feet
  • Neck and face injuries
  • Broken bones, especially arms, fingers, and toes
  • Sprained thumbs and wrists
  • Wounds and bleeding from incised wounds

What time of day did the incident occur?

It’s critical to record the time and day of the incident. This will help you and the authorities determine if anything was out of the ordinary. If you have a camera or phone with a camera and are able, take pictures of the scene and get any witnesses’ contact information. If you are too injured, have a friend or someone on the scene help. Official accident reports will also help you keep track of the specifics of your case.

How was the lighting?

People can’t see inside space to travel safely through it if there isn’t adequate lighting. Property managers and homeowners must keep lights on in hazardous areas, such as stairways and hallways, to allow residents and visitors safe passage.

If a property management firm refuses to install a light fixture over the stairs or allows the light bulbs to burn out without replacing them, and someone slips down the stairs as a result, they may be legally responsible. It is critical to include information on lighting in your premises liability case.

Was the incident reported?

You must inform the business owner or property manager about the accident and obtain prompt medical attention for your injuries. Their reaction to you, whether it’s positive or negative, will contribute to your premise liability case.

Other Factors Contributing to Compensation

  • Did fire rescue or EMTs treat you at the scene?
  • Were you transported to the hospital?
  • Were there any fractures?
  • Were there any ligament or tendon injuries?
  • Do you have any scars?
  • Was it a neck or back injury?
  • What is the amount of medical bills – present and future?
  • Is there an anticipated amount of lost wages?
  • Your age

Medical Malpractice Case

Medical malpractice occurs when a care provider’s negligence leads to injury to one of their patients. This can occur in a hospital, clinic, inpatient care facility, or even at your local pharmacy. Medical malpractice is classified as a personal injury claim under Florida law. You may have a personal injury claim if your medical practitioner committed one of the following offenses while you were under their care:

Emergency Room Error

Emergency room errors may include delaying the admission of a patient, failing to identify a problem, failing to call in a specialist, or discharging a patient prematurely. Unfortunately, patients can get serious, life-threatening infections, significant bodily injuries, organ damage, and even death as a result of these emergency room blunders.

Failure to Diagnose

If your doctor mislabeled a disease or didn’t examine you thoroughly enough to catch an illness, you may be able to collect compensation. If your doctor fails to diagnose a condition, you may be able to bring a medical malpractice claim if it amounts to a breach of the standard of care and results in actual damages.

Nursing Negligence

Many of the instances that have been tried and resolved against nursing negligence involved individuals going through cancer therapy, undergoing invasive operations, having dialysis, or experiencing birth injuries. These are occasions when a nurse gives the wrong medicine or incorrectly uses equipment on a patient, resulting in adverse side effects, coma, or even death. In any of these situations, you are entitled to a settlement that will meet your needs as a result of the incident.

Surgical Error

There are risks with every surgery, but when medical staff makes mistakes during an operation, it can lead to negative outcomes, like infections, long-term pain, and even paralysis or death. These mistakes range from operating on the wrong body part or leaving tools in the patient to failing to detect and treat infections after surgery.

Families that have been affected by these significant surgical blunders suffer great losses such as expensive medical expenditures to have the problem fixed or even the death of a loved one. However, you may receive significant compensation for your medical expenditures, lost income, pain, suffering, and other damages as a result of the surgical mistake you have suffered due to any negligence on the care provider’s part in Florida.

A medical malpractice case costs are often astronomical, and the consequences are frequently severe. They may include:

  • Significant bodily injuries
  • Neurological disorders
  • Orthopedic conditions
  • Birth injury
  • Vision loss
  • Cardiovascular health issues
  • Wrongful death

The average Florida malpractice payment was estimated at $268,466. There is a formula for calculating the estimated value of your medical malpractice case, but you should still get advice from a medical malpractice lawyer. Each case is different, and while the formula may be helpful for “guesstimate” figures, a medical malpractice attorney will look at your situation and better determine its value.

The addition of past and future economic damages, as well as past and future non-economic damages, are used to calculate the value of a settlement. Because this value incorporates not only what your injury has cost you thus far, but also what it may reasonably cost you in the future, determining an amount isn’t always simple.

Talk to an Attorney

In Florida, personal injury cases can be very complicated and contentious legal disputes. This is because there is often a large amount of money on the line. As a result, you should seek assistance from an expert attorney as soon as possible to discover your settlement value.

To receive the compensation you deserve, your lawyer will almost certainly need to do a comprehensive, impartial study of your accident. For car accident cases, they will consider all possible causes and gather evidence to support your case. For premises liability cases, they usually consider whether there were hazardous situations that led to your accident, such as loose handrails on a stairwell, unaddressed obstacles in a public corridor, or other known hazards that should have been remedied before the incident.

To learn more about your legal options, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer from Kaire & Heffernan as soon as possible. Feel free to use our online calculator feature to get an idea of what you should get in damages. One of our attorneys will reach out to you to discuss your claim in further detail. There is no charge for the consultation, and there are no obligations to employ us after it. However, you will see we value our attorney-client relationship and will fight aggressively for you so that you get the justice and fair compensation you deserve!