
As a personal injury lawyer in St. Louis, MO, one of the most frequent questions I receive from clients is, “How much is my car accident case worth?”
Determining the value of a car accident case involves evaluating several key factors.
Understanding these elements can help you better navigate the legal process and set realistic expectations.
Key Factors Influencing Your Case Value
- Medical Expenses:
- Immediate Medical Costs: This includes emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, and any other treatments required right after the accident.
- Ongoing Medical Care: If your injuries necessitate long-term treatment, such as physical therapy or future surgeries, these costs will also be considered in your compensation.
- Lost Wages:
- Current Lost Income: If your injuries prevent you from working, you can claim compensation for the income you have lost during your recovery.
- Future Loss of Earnings: If your injuries affect your ability to work in the future, you may be entitled to compensation for future lost earnings.
- Pain and Suffering:
- Physical Pain: The physical pain and discomfort resulting from your injuries are taken into account.
- Emotional Distress: Emotional impacts such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD resulting from the accident can also affect your case value.
- Property Damage:
- Vehicle Repair or Replacement: Compensation for repairing or replacing your vehicle and any other personal property damaged in the accident.
- Degree of Fault:
- Comparative Negligence: Missouri follows a comparative negligence system. This means your compensation can be reduced if you are found partially at fault for the accident. For example, if you are 20% at fault, your compensation will be reduced by 20%.
- Insurance Policy Limits:
- Liability Insurance: The at-fault driver’s insurance policy limits can affect the amount of compensation you receive. If the damages exceed the policy limits, recovering additional compensation may require pursuing a lawsuit against the at-fault driver directly.
- Quality of Legal Representation:
- Experienced Attorney: An experienced personal injury attorney can significantly impact your case by gathering evidence, negotiating with insurance companies, and ensuring you receive the maximum compensation.
Estimating Your Case Value
While it’s difficult to provide an exact figure without a detailed evaluation, here is a rough method to estimate your claim’s value:
- Calculate Total Medical Expenses: Add up all medical bills, including future estimated costs.
- Add Lost Wages: Include both current lost wages and future loss of earnings.
- Estimate Pain and Suffering: This is often calculated as a multiple of your total medical expenses, typically ranging from 1.5 to 5 times, depending on the severity of your injuries and their impact on your life.
- Include Property Damage: Add the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle and other damaged property.
- Adjust for Comparative Negligence: If you are partially at fault, reduce the total by your percentage of fault.
Example Calculation
Suppose you have:
- $10,000 in medical expenses
- $5,000 in lost wages
- $5,000 in property damage
If the pain and suffering multiplier is 3, the calculation would be: $10,000 (medical) + $5,000 (wages) + $5,000 (property) + ($10,000 x 3 for pain and suffering) = $50,000
If you are found 20% at fault, reduce the total by 20%: $50,000 – $10,000 (20%) = $40,000
Conclusion
Every car accident case is unique, and the value can vary significantly based on the factors outlined above.
Consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney in St. Louis is the best way to get an accurate estimate of your case’s worth and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, contact Sansone & Lauber today for a free consultation.
We are here to help you through every step of the process.