tThere are many different types of personal injury claims and cases. Even though every claim is different, most are handled by dealing with the same three major factors.
At Zinda Law Group, our personal injury attorneys consider three main factors when evaluating a new case and how it is impacted by the auto accident laws in your state. These factors are liability, damages, and recovery. Although these factors may apply differently depending on the type of accident, learning what they are generally is an important starting point for injured plaintiffs.
If you or a loved one was injured or is being sued for a car accident, call Zinda Law Group at (800) 863-5312 for a free case evaluation with one of our personal injury attorneys.
The Three Factors to Determine the Value of your Personal Injury Case
John (Jack) Zinda
Founder / CEO
Over 100 years of combined experience representing injured victims across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation1. LIABILITY
Liability is the first factor that must be analyzed. The personal injury victim must prevail in the liability factor in order to possibly recover at all.
Broadly, the victim must show that the accident was the defendant’s fault and that the victim was wronged. More specifically, liability in a personal injury case can be established by looking at elements of negligence, product liability, premises liability, warranty breaches, and more. Department of Justice statistics about lawsuits show how important it is that an injured plaintiff know his or her rights before pursuing a personal injury lawsuit in court.
The majority of injury claims brought by plaintiffs arise under traditional theories of negligence. Negligence is essentially conduct that falls below the standard of care expected of a reasonable person and causes harm to another person. In a negligence-based personal injury case, a plaintiff must be able to prove four elements. While specific negligence statutes vary by jurisdiction, most contain the same basic requirements:
- A legal duty owed by the defendant to the plaintiff. For example, all automobile drivers owe a duty of care to other motorists on the road.
- The defendant’s breach of duty by knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly threatening the plaintiff’s safety.
- The defendant’s negligence as the cause of the plaintiff’s harm or injuries.
- The plaintiff’s actual damages as a result of the incident. This can include medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, or property damage.
Although most do, not all injury claims involve traditional negligence. If you are unable to satisfy the requirements of a negligence claim, you can still prove fault in a variety of other ways, including by establishing intentional conduct, proving negligence per se, or showing that the case should be governed by the strict liability standard of proof.
Intentional conduct is something that is done voluntarily and with a purpose to inflict harm or damage. Personal injury cases arising from assault, battery, and similar conduct can give rise to an intentional tort case.
Negligence per se applies when there is an unexcused violation of a statute or established law. In such a case, a defendant may be automatically held liable for damages if the plaintiff’s injury is of the type that the statute was intended to prevent, and the plaintiff belongs to the class of people the statute was intended to protect.
Strict liability means that the injured person does not need to establish the defendant’s negligence in order to recover damages. The most common claims involving strict liability are product liability cases, but this fault concept can apply to incidents involving possession of wild animals and to other abnormally dangerous activities. Strict liability operates under the notion that these types of defendants assume the risks of their activities and must pay for any resulting damages stemming from this assumption.
Personal injury claims can require extensive legal analysis and research. Courts require plaintiffs to present evidence and documentation—sometimes many pieces—before awarding damages. Skilled professional attorneys are experienced in gathering and maintaining these kinds of materials.
Since your ability to recover depends on requirements like these and your jurisdiction’s statutory and common law, it would be beneficial to contact an attorney who specializes in auto accident law and personal injury cases. If you were injured in an accident, a personal injury attorney can help you assess the laws of your jurisdiction and apply them to the specific facts of your unique case.
Neil Solomon
Partner
Real results matter. We do not get paid unless we win your case.
Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation2. DAMAGES
The second factor to determine the value of your personal injury case is damages. Damages refers to the sum of money the law imposes for a breach of some duty or violation of some right. Generally, there are two types of damages: compensatory and punitive.
Compensatory damages are intended to compensate the injured party for a loss or injury. To receive compensatory damages, you may need to prove that a loss occurred. You will also need to be able to quantify the amount of your loss to the jury or judge. Most courts recognize two types of compensatory damages: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages are tangible damages that can easily be quantified. The value of economic damages does not typically change depending on the jury that is evaluating them. Economic damages can include past and future medical expenses, past and future lost wages, household services, rehabilitation costs, property damage, out-of-pocket expenses, and lost earning capacity.
Non-economic damages are damages that are not so easily quantifiable. Non-economic damages may include pain, emotional anguish, humiliation, reputation damage, and loss of enjoyment.
Punitive damages are awarded to punish a wrongdoer. These damages may be awarded in addition to compensatory damages in certain circumstances. If you were injured in an accident, you should contact an attorney to help you assess your options for compensation. A personal injury attorney may be able to help you determine how much your case is worth.
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
Standing by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week ready to answer in your time of need.
Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation3. RECOVERY
The last factor to determine the value of your personal injury case is a source for recovery. After you have established liability and damage, you must then determine whether there is a defendant willing and able to pay for your losses. If the defendant is unable to pay the damages, you may be left without any compensation.
Unfortunately, there are many severe cases where plaintiffs suffered significant losses but received no compensation because the responsible parties had no money to give. When evaluating whether a defendant is able to pay, you should consider the defendant’s assets and insurance policies. If the defendant has an applicable insurance policy, you may be able to get compensation from the insurance company itself, which is often more reliable than other sources of recovery.
Determining whether a defendant can provide you with adequate compensation can be difficult, especially for victims with little information. If you were injured in an accident, you should contact an attorney who handles personal injury claims as soon as possible. That attorney may be able to help you conduct research and evaluate your options accordingly.
Cole Gumm
Attorney
We are here to ensure you won’t have to face this difficult time alone.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationNEED HELP TO DETERMINE THE VALUE OF YOUR PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM? CONTACT ZINDA LAW GROUP TODAY
Accidents can cause serious bodily injury and property damage, significantly impacting victims’ lives. Personal injury cases can also involve high stakes and substantial dollar amounts. Many personal injury cases are governed by three major factors: liability, damages, and recovery. If you have been involved in an accident, you should contact a lawyer who handles personal injury lawsuits as soon as possible. An experienced attorney may be able to help you determine liability, seek damages, and evaluate your recovery options.
At Zinda Law Group, we have the knowledge and resources necessary to help you pursue the highest compensation possible. Zinda Law Group offers personalized and quality consultation about the specifics of legal claims. The sooner you contact our office, the better we may be able to serve you.
If you or your loved one sustained injuries in an accident, call Zinda Law Group at (800) 863-5312 for a free case evaluation from one of our personal injury lawyers. You don’t owe us anything unless we win your case. That’s our No Win, No Fee Guarantee.
Meetings with attorneys are available by appointment only.
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
We have successfully represented clients in a wide variety of cases across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation
