You’ve met with a personal injury attorney and filed a lawsuit against the negligent party responsible for your injuries. You’ve been patient and you’re lawyer has informed you that your lawsuit has been settled. Congratulations! Now what? If you are like many injured victims, you may be wondering how your personal injury lawsuit is actually calculated. What is taken into effect and considered before you are awarded compensation?
When awarding damages in any type of Seattle or Washington civil case, the judge or jury must take many aspects of the accident into consideration, including:
- Severity of the injuries
- Effect the injuries have had on the overall physical health of the injured victim
- Effect those injuries have had on the overall mental health of the injured victim
- Physical pain in both the past and the future
- Mental anguish in both the past and the future
- Long term complications or effects of the injuries
- Disfigurement
- Humiliation or embarrassment associated with injury
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Long-term care expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of potential earnings
- Future medical or rehabilitation expenses
- Loss of quality of life
- And more
Once these factors have been considered, the judge or jury can use this to determine the appropriate amount of compensation to award the victim. Washington State and most other states require the jury to breakdown the total amount of awarded damages to show how much was allocated for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc. There are caps placed on non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering.
Damage award calculations are also affected by the amount of evidence that is presented by the injured victim and his or her Seattle personal injury attorney. The jury or judge must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the injuries were caused by the negligent party and that those injuries led to significant physical, emotional, and mental anguish. Medical expense receipts, doctor’s testimonies, and calculations for lost wages are all very critical pieces of information that will be required during a personal injury trial.
We Fight for You
At Phillips Law Firm, our Seattle personal injury attorneys are ready to fight for you. If you or someone you love is injured in a car accident, motorcycle accident, or any motor vehicle accident, we can help. Contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys at the Phillips Law Firm today for a free consultation and review of your case. Call us at 1-800-708-6000 today.