Los Angeles, CA, Personal Injury Settlement Amounts Examples (2024)

A personal injury occurs whenever the actions of one person or party harms another party. The injured victim can file a civil suit against whoever injured them, seeking compensation for the losses suffered in the incident. While a personal injury case may seem like a straightforward legal mechanism, the reality is that many people encounter unexpected challenges with these cases that they do not know how to overcome on their own. One of the most common questions a plaintiff will likely have in this situation is how much compensation they can claim from the defendant who injured them.

A Los Angeles personal injury attorney is an invaluable asset in this situation. The right attorney can not only help their client prove liability for their damages but also maximize the compensation they obtain for those damages. If you plan to pursue any type of personal injury claim in Los Angeles, investing in legal counsel you can trust will pay off tremendously in several ways.

Calculating the Value of a Personal Injury Case

The foundation of any personal injury case is actual harm or some kind of measurable loss resulting from another party’s negligence or illegal misconduct. The objective of a personal injury claim is for the victim to prove fault and secure the compensation they need to become as whole again as possible after being injured by another party’s actions.

A plaintiff in a personal injury claim can seek compensation for all economic losses the defendant inflicted with their negligence or misconduct. For most plaintiffs, these economic damages are likely to include property damage, medical expenses, and lost income.

Property damage is straightforward and can include the cost of repairing or replacing any of the plaintiff’s property that the defendant damaged or destroyed. When it comes to medical expenses and lost income, the plaintiff has the right to claim not only compensation for immediate losses but also the future economic impact of the defendant’s actions. For example, if you had a catastrophic injury that requires extensive ongoing treatment, the defendant is responsible for both immediate and future medical expenses you incur from their actions. Similarly, if your future earning power has been degraded from the personal injury you suffered, the defendant is responsible for your lost future earning capacity.

Beyond economic losses, the plaintiff can seek recompense for the pain and suffering they experienced due to the incident. If the plaintiff suffered any type of permanent harm from the defendant’s actions, their pain and suffering compensation could form a sizeable portion of their total recovery. If the defendant caused the personal injury through some illegal misconduct, the defendant could also face punitive damages and/or restitution alongside their liability for the plaintiff’s claimed damages.

Ultimately, if you have grounds to file a personal injury claim against another party, it behooves you to seek out a personal injury attorney you can trust to represent you. The right attorney is an invaluable asset in any personal injury case because they can streamline your recovery substantially, helping you uncover channels of compensation you may have otherwise overlooked.

FAQs

Q: How Much Is the Average Car Accident Settlement?

A: On average, victims of car accidents caused by other drivers are able to recover about 1.5 times their total economic damages. The right attorney is an invaluable asset in any car accident case because they can help their client maximize their initial auto insurance claim settlement before building a personal injury case on their behalf. You could be entitled to more than you expect, so it is vital to reach out to reliable legal counsel as soon as possible after any car accident.

Q: How Much Is My Personal Injury Claim Worth?

A: The total value of any personal injury case hinges on the overall severity of the victim’s damages. State law allows the personal injury case plaintiff to seek full repayment of all economic losses they suffered because of the defendant’s negligence or misconduct, and the plaintiff may also claim compensation for their pain and suffering. An experienced attorney can provide an estimate of your case’s potential value if you win.

Q: How Are Pain and Suffering Calculated in Personal Injury Claims?

A: There is no limit on pain and suffering compensation in most personal injury claims, so this could form the bulk of a plaintiff’s recovery if they suffered a serious injury. An attorney may calculate pain and suffering for their client based on the overall severity of the injury and the long-term effects it will have on their client, or they may base their calculation on the time it takes the client to reach maximum medical improvement from the injury.

Q: Does It Take a Lot of Time to Settle a Personal Injury Claim?

A: When a defendant is clearly liable for a personal injury, it benefits them to seek a swift settlement with the plaintiff and minimize their legal expenses. Settlement can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the complexity of your claim and the quality of your legal counsel. If your case proceeds to litigation for any reason, this will take much longer and may not yield the results you expect.

Q: How Much Would It Cost Me to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?

A: The majority of personal injury attorneys accepting cases use contingency fee billing. This makes legal counsel more accessible to those who need it most. With a contingency fee agreement, the client only pays a fee to their attorney if and when the attorney wins their case. The attorney’s fee is a percentage of the final case award, and the client keeps the remainder. If the attorney is unsuccessful with a claim for any reason, the client pays nothing.

Amendt Law has years of experience representing clients in all types of personal injury cases, and we would like to put this experience to work for you. Contact us today and schedule your free consultation with a personal injury attorney you can trust with your case.