3 Factors that Impact the Value of a New Jersey Personal Injury Claim
Our attorneys have over seven
decades combined experience.
How much is your personal injury claim really worth? We know our clients hate hearing it, but the answer really is: “it depends.”
In general, we can’t even answer the question until you’ve reached maximum medical improvement, as those bills and your long-term care needs tell us what the sum total of your economic damages are likely to be.
However, there are some general factors which we can look at which can factor into how much money you may receive as we seek to negotiate your settlement.
1) Your own degree of fault.
New Jersey is a comparative negligence state. This means that each driver is assigned a percentage of fault.
You can recover funds any time you are less than 51% at fault, but your award amount will be reduced by the degree of fault that is eventually assigned to you.
If you know you were keeping your eyes on the road, were not driving distracted, and were following all traffic laws then you will know you have a stronger case than if you made mistakes during the accident as well.
2) The severity of your injuries.
Nobody ever really wants to launch a personal injury suit to get rich. They launch them because some injuries are, frankly, life-altering. If you’ve been working as a solar panel installer and become a quadraplegic in a truck accident then there’s a good chance that you’re never going to work again. That’s likely to lead to the kinds of million dollar settlements you’re always seeing on television.
Why? Because you’ll need long-term care and money to live on.
Again, the actual amount of your medical bills and long-term care bills will matter here.
In addition, the severity of your injuries and the extent to which your life has been impacted by them will play into your pain and suffering award, which can be any amount. This will either be negotiated during a settlement conference or set by a jury.
3) Your attorney’s skill as a negotiator and as a litigator.
There’s just no getting around this. Skill matters. Experience matters.
92% of cases settle out of court. If you have an inexperienced or timid attorney they might not know how to present a clear narrative of your case. They may also struggle to negotiate effectively on your behalf.
If the case actually goes to court things get even harder. New Jersey juries are often skeptical of personal injury cases. You need a well-prepared litigator who knows exactly how to present the facts of your case in a favorable light.
We’ve been at this since 1996, and we’ve helped our clients recover millions of dollars. Turn to us for a free consultation today.
See also:
3 Reasons Motorcycle Personal Injury Cases Require Expert Help
How Are Pain and Suffering Damages Calculated in New Jersey?
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How much is your personal injury claim really worth? We know our clients hate hearing it, but the answer really is: “it depends.”
In general, we can’t even answer the question until you’ve reached maximum medical improvement, as those bills and your long-term care needs tell us what the sum total of your economic damages are likely to be.
However, there are some general factors which we can look at which can factor into how much money you may receive as we seek to negotiate your settlement.
1) Your own degree of fault.
New Jersey is a comparative negligence state. This means that each driver is assigned a percentage of fault.
You can recover funds any time you are less than 51% at fault, but your award amount will be reduced by the degree of fault that is eventually assigned to you.
If you know you were keeping your eyes on the road, were not driving distracted, and were following all traffic laws then you will know you have a stronger case than if you made mistakes during the accident as well.
2) The severity of your injuries.
Nobody ever really wants to launch a personal injury suit to get rich. They launch them because some injuries are, frankly, life-altering. If you’ve been working as a solar panel installer and become a quadraplegic in a truck accident then there’s a good chance that you’re never going to work again. That’s likely to lead to the kinds of million dollar settlements you’re always seeing on television.
Why? Because you’ll need long-term care and money to live on.
Again, the actual amount of your medical bills and long-term care bills will matter here.
In addition, the severity of your injuries and the extent to which your life has been impacted by them will play into your pain and suffering award, which can be any amount. This will either be negotiated during a settlement conference or set by a jury.
3) Your attorney’s skill as a negotiator and as a litigator.
There’s just no getting around this. Skill matters. Experience matters.
92% of cases settle out of court. If you have an inexperienced or timid attorney they might not know how to present a clear narrative of your case. They may also struggle to negotiate effectively on your behalf.
If the case actually goes to court things get even harder. New Jersey juries are often skeptical of personal injury cases. You need a well-prepared litigator who knows exactly how to present the facts of your case in a favorable light.
We’ve been at this since 1996, and we’ve helped our clients recover millions of dollars. Turn to us for a free consultation today.
See also:
3 Reasons Motorcycle Personal Injury Cases Require Expert Help
How Are Pain and Suffering Damages Calculated in New Jersey?