One of the first questions often asked by someone who has been injured in an accident is, “what is my case worth?” The only way to offer a valid opinion on this subject is to investigate the facts, review medical records and bills, find out if the injured person has permanent injuries, and check to see how much insurance is available. Only at that point can a reasonable estimate be made.

The value of your case can only be determined after:

• The client has finished medical treatment
• All medical records have been reviewed
• All medical bills have been obtained
• All wage loss information has been received
• The treating physician has been consulted to see if the client’s injuries are permanent
• The facts surrounding the accident have been completely investigated to make sure someone else is responsible (negligence) and that the injured person did not contribute negligence to his accident
• The source of the collection, usually the other person’s insurance company, is determined

We understand it is tough being the victim of an accident because someone else was careless. It’s even worse when you don’t understand the law and the process of getting your claim resolved. However, there are some general guidelines to help you in this process.

Liability means fault. Who caused the accident? Did someone act with less care than was reasonable under the circumstances? If so, that’s negligence. Did the injured person contribute to the accident with their own negligence?

Damages are the second necessary part of the Personal Injury trinity. If you were in an accident but weren’t injured or didn’t sustain any damage, you don’t have a claim. But if you have suffered an injury, you are entitled to fair and adequate compensation. Strong lawyers believe the value of damages is based upon what they believe a reasonable jury would award as fair and adequate compensation. Some lawyers, unfortunately, base value upon whatever the insurance company will offer—even if it isn’t fair.

Generally, there are three types of damages:

• Economic losses to date: The primary past economic losses are expenses for medical care and lost wages.
• Future economic losses: These are usually expensed for future medical care and future loss of income.
• Past and future pain and suffering for the physical and mental anguish experienced: This is the most difficult area to prove. There are no books that juries are allowed to use to make this determination.

The question is, “what is the amount that a reasonable person take for these injuries?” Understandably, it can be impossible to place an exact dollar amount on pain, permanent disability, or disfigurement. Many insurance companies use a mathematical formula to figure how much should be paid for Personal Injury cases.

We produce an extensive document that discusses the facts of your case in detail, as well as liability issues, your injuries, your treatment, your future prognosis, and our evaluation of these issues. We discuss all options available to you, ranging from settling with the insurance company to going to trial. We make sure you know what your choices are and the consequences associated with each choice.

After reviewing all pertinent information with you, and after gaining your approval, we then negotiate with the insurance company to receive a settlement offer. After a settlement offer is received, we talk with you and let you know how much money you will net (in your pocket) so you will have a chance to fairly evaluate your options.

This process continues until the insurance company submits what we believe is their best and final settlement offer. If you accept this final offer, money from your settlement is usually in your hands in approximately 30 days. If you decide not to settle, then we will move forward with litigation and let a jury decide the value of your case. We will do everything in our power to obtain the verdict you deserve.

Most personal injury settlements are paid as lump-sum settlements. The total amount of compensation across all forms of economic and non-economic owed to you will be calculated and accumulated into a single amount. The defendant then agrees to pay that amount in exchange for the agreement that the case is concluded and that you can’t demand further compensation for the same damages, no matter what evidence of liability appears in the future or how your injury worsens. It is not unusual for a claimant’s law firm to handle the financial transaction to ensure the correct amount is provided and in a timely manner.

This process continues until the insurance company submits what we believe is their best and final settlement offer. If you accept this final offer, money from your settlement is usually in your hands in approximately 30 days. If you decide not to settle, then we will move forward with litigation and let a jury decide the value of your case. We will do everything in our power to obtain the verdict you deserve.

Settlements can also be paid across multiple payments that span months or years. This solution might be amicable if the defendant does not have the financial means to pay the entirety of your damages upfront. Or you might benefit from delayed payments if receiving everything at once could put you in an undesirable tax situation. Although, rewards for personal injury cases are typically unaffected by taxes. Some people want to stagger their settlement payments simply to ensure they don’t inadvertently spend it all on the wrong things.

The definition of a personal injury in terms of the law is kept intentionally broad. Essentially, any injury suffered due to another’s negligence or wrongdoing could be considered a ‘personal injury’ that can be answered with a claim or lawsuit, especially when that injury could have been prevented had more caution or attention been exercised.

When you bring a claim against someone for causing you harm or injuries, you aren’t likely to sue them directly. In the vast majority of personal injury cases, the claim is brought against the defendant’s insurance policy and the company that sold that policy, such as an auto insurance policy from Progressive® or a homeowner’s insurance policy from State Farm®. The insurance company can then decide to accept the claim or refute it, which makes them your direct opposition as your case progresses, not necessarily the person or party that hurt you.

You should never hesitate to seek financial compensation after being in an accident that wasn’t your fault just because you assume the liable party has no or not enough insurance. A talented personal injury attorney might be able to uncover separate insurance policies that still apply to the situation. Or they might have personal assets to use to pay for your damages instead.

If you have suffered an injury, you may feel overwhelmed or confused. Unfortunately, insurance companies are positioned to take advantage of this confusion and your desire to move on with your life. Insurance companies make profits by convincing you to settle for a fraction of what your case may be really worth. You have been hurt once through no fault of your own, so don’t get hurt again by the insurance company because you fail to get an experienced lawyer to help you.

Too many people who have suffered an injury are too scared, intimidated, guilt-ridden, or otherwise reluctant to seek the help they need. Some have had bad experiences with other lawyers. Some have already been intimidated by the big company they’ve been dealing with. Some simply believe that it is wrong to bring a claim for personal injuries.

Caddell Reynolds Law Firm offers no pressure free initial case evaluations to give us a chance to evaluate your case and to give you a chance to evaluate you. We’ll talk about your Personal Injury, your legal rights, and any other questions you may have about your case.

We’ll also answer any questions you have about our legal experience, including cases that we have settled and tried before juries. During this interview, we hope to:</strong

• Find a way to get you compensated for your injuries
• Find out if the big insurance company you are up against is withholding benefits you are entitled to or pressuring you to make a quick settlement
• See if you’ve been exposed to risks you may not know exist, the likes of which could spell disaster for you and your case

The case evaluation is free and, if you decide to hire Caddell Reynolds Law Firm, you also pay no hourly fees. We only get paid when we finish your case and recover money for you. Our clients are never required to pay an hourly fees. We work on a contingency fee basis, so we only get paid if you do. If there is no recovery, then there is no legal fee. Therefore, we have an incentive to devote ourselves to your case and fight for your rights to receive the kind of compensation you deserve as quickly as possible.