Determining and Protecting the Value of Your Fort Wayne Personal Injury Claim

After sustaining injuries in an accident, you may want to bring an injury claim with the insurance company of the party responsible for it. But how much compensation can you seek?

For the majority of people, knowing the worth of your injury and claim can be difficult. The reason is nobody thinks they will get injured in a car accident, slip and fall in a shop or suffer due to the mistake of another person. But the reality is that such kinds of accidents occur every day and those injured should be aware of their rights, the amount of compensation they deserve and the steps they should take if they get an unfair settlement offer from the insurer. Also, it is important to understand the importance of having a personal injury lawyer Fort Wayne on one’s side when bring a legal claim against another party.

Calculating Your Personal Injury Claim’s Value

Certain injuries don’t have values assigned to them. Also, every case is unique, so it can be difficult to determine the average settlement for personal injury cases. Rather, compensation is awarded based on various factors.

• Economic damages.  This refers to the impacts of the accident or injury on your finances, including your ability to earn an income and medical bills. These damages include medical care costs, medical tests, medical devices, mental health services, lost wages, ongoing medical services, and home modification costs. 
• Non-economic damages. This covers the impacts of the accident or injury on your emotional well-being, personal life, mental health, and family. These damages include pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and mental anguish. 

Remember that the main priority of the insurance company is to protect its bottom line. The insurance adjuster assigned to your case is not obliged to provide you with a reasonable settlement, an honest claim estimate, and good legal advice. While you can find online calculators to help you calculate your claim’s value, nothing beats the ability and knowledge of a personal injury attorney. 

Sadly, a lot of injured people accept initial settlement offers due to their financial needs. They fail to realize the cost of future medical care that the settlement offer could cover. Once you accept a settlement and sign the release, you won’t be able to pursue another claim or demand additional compensation from the insurance company. This is the reason you must consult with a skilled lawyer before you accept a settlement offer. An attorney can put together a strong injury claim and demand just compensation. 

Protecting Your Claim’s Value

Your personal injury claim’s value depends on a lot of things. However, simple mistakes can affect its value for the worse. So, make sure to take the following steps:

• Seek immediate medical attention. After an accident, see a doctor as soon as possible even if you do not feel injured. The doctor can diagnose the severity of and treat your injuries. Also, the created medical records and bills are pieces of evidence that can be used to strengthen your claim. 
• Avoid social media. Whatever you post on social media can impact your injury claim. Your social media posts and comments can be misinterpreted and used against your claim. To be safe, do not post anything on social media at all. 
• Do not exaggerate or like about your symptoms. You might need to describe your injuries to a certain party involved in the case. When this happens, you need to be honest about the impacts of your injuries on your life. Never downplay or exaggerate what occurred to you. Otherwise, your personal injury claim can be undermined, resulting in you getting less than you deserve.