How Much Compensation Can Be Recovered for a Catastrophic Injury Caused by Negligence?

 Posted on May 05, 2022 in Personal Injury

In the legal realm, the word “negligence” refers to a party’s irresponsible, reckless, or careless action. Negligence may also refer to irresponsible inaction. For example, an apartment landlord who knows a stairwell is unsafe should take action to remedy the problems that make it unsafe for tenants and guests. Negligence may come in the form of unsafe driving, defective design or manufacture of consumer products, failure to maintain a safe property, and more.

If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury such as a brain injury, spine injury, or amputation because another party acted negligently, you may be able to take legal action. You could be compensated not only for your medical bills and other financial losses, but also for your non-financial damages such as pain and suffering.

Financial Reimbursement for a Severe Injury

Catastrophic injuries are injuries that significantly impact the injured person’s life. The injured person may suffer paralysis, loss of functioning, loss of vision or hearing, or other disabling consequences. Money from a personal injury claim cannot make up for catastrophic injuries, but it may help the injured person cover medical costs and other expenses created by the injury.

Financial compensation for a catastrophic injury may include compensation for:

• Past and future medical expenses

• Lost wages and lost earning capacity from being unable to work

• Physical pain

• Mental and emotional suffering

• Disability

• Disfigurement

• Property damage such as vehicle damage

The amount of compensation an injured person can receive depends on many different factors including the nature of the injury and the way the injury affects his or her life. Someone who is left permanently disabled and in need of ongoing medical care will likely recover more compensation than someone with minor injuries that will eventually heal.

Compensation for pain and suffering is usually calculated using a multiplier and the amount of economic damages. For example, someone who suffers an amputation injury in a car crash may receive $200,000 for medical bills and other expenses. That number may be multiplied by 1.5 – 5 to determine the amount of compensation the victim receives for pain, suffering, lost quality of life, and other non-financial damages.

Most personal injury cases are resolved through settlement negotiations rather than trials. An experienced personal injury lawyer can advocate on the injured person’s behalf and seek maximum compensation for the victim’s financial and non-financial damages.

Contact a Cook County Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one suffered a severe, life-altering injury, contact Schwartz Injury Law to discuss your legal options. Our Joliet personal injury attorneys have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for injured victims and their families. Call us at 708-888-2160 for a free consultation to learn more.

Source:

https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/courts/circuit-court/illinois-pattern-jury-instructions-civil/