How Much Is My Case Worth?

Online settlement calculators cannot account for the evidence and legal issues in a specific matter. Evaluation may depend on responsibility, medical evidence, work loss, insurance coverage, collectability, venue, and other case-specific factors.

Three Groups of Case-Evaluation Factors

Injury claims are evaluated from the available evidence, not a universal formula. Common areas of review include:

1. Documented Economic Loss

• Medical expenses: Records and charges associated with evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, and related care.
• Potential future care: Case-specific recommendations and cost projections supported by qualified providers or other appropriate professionals.
• Past income loss: Documented time away from work and related earnings evidence.
• Earning-capacity questions: Supported changes in the ability to work or earn income.

2. Personal and Functional Harm

• Physical effects: Pain, symptoms, limitations, and treatment experiences documented in the record.
• Emotional effects: Diagnosed or otherwise supported psychological harm related to the event.
• Relationship effects: Legally recognized harm to a marital or family relationship when the evidence supports it.
• Disfigurement or impairment: Scarring, amputation, or other lasting changes supported by medical evidence.

3. Responsibility, Coverage, and Collectability

A serious injury claim should be evaluated against the available proof of responsibility, potentially responsible parties, insurance policies, defendant assets, comparative fault, and collectability.

• Insurance and other recovery sources: Applicable policy terms, limits, exclusions, and any legally available assets require case-specific review.
• Comparative fault: An allocation of responsibility may reduce or bar recovery under the law that applies to the claim.

The "Multiplier" Myth

A simple multiplier cannot replace factual and legal review. Evaluation may depend on injury severity, permanency, treatment, work restrictions, comparative fault, venue, coverage, and the proof available to support claimed losses.