How much is my personal injury lawsuit worth?
Posted April 13th, 2015 by Anthony Carbone, PC.
Categories: Personal Injury.
A common question we hear often at the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone is how much you are expecting to get out of your personal injury lawsuit. The answer to this question is always the same…we don’t know yet. It’s not a figure that can be easily figured out. There are many factors to take into account when determining how much your lawsuit is worth.
When it comes to personal injury lawsuits, there are different kind of damages that can be awarded:
Compensatory Damages – These damages are meant to compensate the plaintiff for what has been lost. For instance, let’s say you got into a car accident and punctured a lung, keeping you out of commission for several months. Because the accident, you are now saddled with expensive medical bills and a loss of income. In addition, your car has been totaled. Compensatory damages are meant to give back to you the money that you had lost. There are different types of compensatory damages, such as:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of income
- Property loss
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment
- Loss of consortium
Punitive Damages – Punitive damages are a little different than compensatory. These damages are awarded to a plaintiff as a form to punish the guilty party. Here’s an example: After getting into the above car accident, instead of staying and calling the police, the other driver decides to leave the scene of the accident after calling 911. Since that driver’s behavior is considered extremely negligent, you may be able to receive punitive damages from him.
Remember that your role in the accident does play some part in the compensation you may receive in your personal injury lawsuit. For instance, if you are found to be equally responsible for the accident, you may receive less compensation.
If you are considering a personal injury lawsuit, please contact Jersey City attorney Anthony Carbone. He has 26 years of experience in personal injury lawsuits and will know how strong of a case you really have. Contact us today for a free consultation.
