subject: What Determines a Personal Injury Claim Award? [print this page] Author: Sal Lingo
As anyone whos pursued a personal injury claim can tell you, the process isnt exactly intuitive. When youre filing your personal injury claim, you might have some idea about how much the claim should be for. More often than not, however, youll discover that there are a number of other factors that will go into your personal injury claim award amount that you probably havent even considered. Knowing what those factors are will help you as you file your claim and as you choose the right attorney for your case. Before we even look at those factors, however, you need to realize that your record keeping is probably the most important task you have during the injury claim process. If you cant provide records of specific expenses, youre going to have very little success in trying to win your personal injury claim. You need to keep every receipt, every doctors bill, and everything you receive from the parties involved, such as correspondence or a police report on the accident. One of the most important factors in determining a personal injury claim award is liability. To receive an award, you need to be able to prove, in court, that the injury was caused by someone else. The cause may often have been unintentional, and a result of negligence, but you need to be able to prove liability. The good news is that most accidents do clearly have one party who was at fault. Another significant factor in determining a personal injury claim award is the particular injury youve suffered. Minor injuries result in relatively minor damages, and therefore minor awards. The normal kinds of damages youll have with a personal injury claim include the medical costs, such as those involving an ambulance, emergency room supplies or personnel, and the hospital. Your award should be enough to cover the charges for doctors as well as specialized treatment. It should cover medications, both those available over the counter and those that require a prescription. Other medical expenses, including things like therapy or x-rays, should also be factored into your claim award. There are other expenses that can factor into your personal injury claim award, too. If you have missed work due to the injury, you may be able to recover lost wages through your claim. In addition, you may be able to claim other expenses and damages, such as lost sick leave time, transportation costs to and from your doctor, and even child care. Property damage may also make up your injury claim. If youve been in a car accident, for example, the claim might include repairs to the vehicle as well as the cost of storage or towing. The success of your personal injury claim will rest on many factors, and being aware of what goes into the personal injury claim award is a significant and important one.About the Author:
