How Much is an Illinois Personal Injury Case Worth?

 Posted on July 14, 2021 in Personal Injury

If you are suffering from the effects of an injury caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be overwhelmed by the mounting medical expenses and all of the other ways your injuries have changed your life for the worse. In the most difficult moments, the possibility of recovering financial compensation from the at-fault party may provide some consolation, but it is reasonable to wonder just how much you may receive. Though the value of a personal injury case varies substantially depending on the circumstances, you can start to get a better idea by considering some of these questions.

How Much Medical Treatment Do You Need?

Personal injury victims can pursue compensation for the full extent of their relevant medical expenses. The costs of treating soft tissue or surface injuries are typically lower than the costs of severe, catastrophic injuries that require surgery, rehabilitation, and multiple visits to the hospital and specialists over many months and years. A personal injury settlement or verdict can include compensation for both past and future medical bills.

Are You Missing Time at Work?

Some injuries have a long recovery period, during which you may not be able to work full-time, if at all. Other injuries can leave you permanently disabled, which may decrease your earning capacity throughout the rest of your life. As with medical expenses, it is possible to pursue compensation for lost wages from work time you have already missed, as well as future lost wages related to your disability.

Do Your Injuries Affect Your Life in Other Ways?

It may surprise you to learn that you can recover financial compensation for damages that do not have a clear monetary value. Non-economic damages, commonly known as pain and suffering, may be available if your injuries affect your mental health, your appearance, your personal relationships, and your daily life. Pain and suffering damages can dramatically increase the overall value of your settlement or verdict.

Are Punitive Damages a Possibility?

Illinois courts only award punitive damages when an injury victim can demonstrate that the at-fault party acted intentionally or with reckless disregard for the effects of their actions. You may have a case for punitive damages if the cause of your injuries was a behavior that the court has an interest in discouraging, such as drunk driving. These punitive damages would be added to any compensatory damages you receive.

How Much Insurance Does the Negligent Party Have?

Personal injury compensation usually comes from the negligent party’s liability insurance, so their policy limits may influence the amount you can recover. Keep in mind that negligent businesses often have higher policy limits than individuals. In a car accident case, if the negligent party’s insurance does not fully cover your damages, you may be able to obtain additional compensation through your underinsured motorist coverage.

Contact a Cook County Personal Injury Lawyer

At Schwartz Injury Law, we can review the specific details of your case to determine its worth and represent you in pursuit of fair compensation. Call us today at 708-888-2160 for a free consultation with an Orland Park, IL personal injury attorney.

Sources:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=073500050K2-1115.2

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=073500050K2-1115.05