Many individuals might not think it’s necessary to file a personal injury claim because they don’t think they can receive much in compensation. However, Louisiana personal injury settlement amounts examples tell a different story. Many people can receive more than they expected when considering different types of damages. Talk to a personal injury attorney to learn how much your case might be worth.
Generally, personal injury claims that receive help from an attorney recover more damages than claims that are individually filed.
According to the National Center for State Courts, the overwhelming amount of claims filed in civil courts are for automobile accidents and other types of personal injury cases. Additionally, most cases are either settled out of court, dismissed, or a default judgment is given, meaning that very few cases are actually heard in front of a jury.
While the average nationwide judgment amount for torts was $64,761 in 2015, it is important to note that this figure only includes judgments from courts, not agreements that were settled out of court. However, if a tort case made it to a jury, the average judgment amount rose to over $2 million.
Additional data from the NCSC mentions that the majority of parties involved in personal injury cases have an attorney representing them. This makes sense when considering the complicated nature of these types of claims. An attorney can help prove complex claims by determining what type of evidence is needed and doing the legwork to recover this evidence.
Even if your claim does not make it to a traditional courtroom, evidence shows that claims backed by an attorney have a higher chance for approval from an insurance company as well as a higher average settlement amount. Data shows that speaking with an attorney improves your odds of a successful claim, even when taking their fees into consideration. The added value of their professional experience usually leads to improved results.
Personal injury settlements are calculated based on the severity of damages a victim endured during the accident. The settlement is broken down into different types of damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional suffering. There are different amounts and multipliers applied to each damage type to calculate a final amount. The settlement might also be adjusted due to negotiations with an insurance company or an attorney.
You might be able to receive damages if you were somewhat at fault for your injuries. Louisiana follows comparative negligence, which means that a court can assign percentages of fault to different parties. This can limit the amount of damages you can receive, but it might not entirely disqualify you from receiving benefits. Talk with an attorney to figure out how much in damages you could receive depending on the circumstances of your accident.
If an insurance company denies your personal injury claim, you might still be able to receive compensation. An attorney could help you determine the reason why your claim was denied to provide more information or even file an appeal. If necessary, they could even represent you in court if there’s reason to believe the insurance company is acting in bad faith. For many victims of personal injuries, an insurance claim denial is not the end of the road.
Types of evidence that can help a personal injury claim can include things like medical records and eyewitness testimony if available. Visual evidence like photos and videos of the scene can also be helpful. In some cases, professionals can be used to give eyewitness testimony in a personal injury claim. A personal injury lawyer can help gather evidence for your claim to increase your odds of success.
Don’t let an insurance company or other party try to convince you that filing a personal injury claim isn’t worth it. A personal injury claim is a valuable option for victims who deserve compensation to recover from injuries and return to a normal life. Schedule a consultation with Sanchez Burke, LLC, to learn whether a personal injury claim is right for you.