Can I Get $1 Million for My Injury?
How can you determine if your injury is worth $1 million or more? First, there is a difference between how much your injury is worth and how much your accident case is worth.
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The Difference between the Value of an Injury and the Value of an Accident Case
You may have a $1 million injury, but your accident case may only be worth $100,000 if the insurance policy has a limit of $100,000 and the defendant doesn’t have enough money or assets to go after.
In the last few years, we have seen many more defendants with large insurance policies of $1 million or more than we used to. This is probably due to political cries for tort reform resulting in insurance salespeople talking people into larger insurance policies.
Other factors will also make your accident case worth less than the value of your injury. For instance, you could have a $1 million injury, but if you caused the accident, you may not be able to get any money. The state where your accident occurred also has a lot to do with that. In New York, if you can prove that the other person was 10% at fault for causing your injury, you would be entitled to receive $100,000.
Many accident cases get settled for $1 million or more, but how much your case is worth depends on dozens of factors.
Some Important Factors Determining How Much Your Accident Case Is Worth
- The type and severity of your injury or injuries.
- The amount of treatment you had by the time your case is settled or goes to trial and the amount of treatment you will need in the future.
- Your age. The younger you are, the longer your life expectancy and the amount of compensation over your lifetime.
- The cost of your past and future medical treatment.
- Whether your injury is permanent or temporary.
- The percentage of fault of the other person or company.
- The amount of insurance and assets available.
- The county where your case will go to trial. Juries in one county may award more money than juries in another county.
- Whether the defendant is a sympathetic defendant.
- Whether you will make a good appearance and testify well.
- Whether you have lost wages and how your injury will affect your future ability to earn a living.
What to Look for in a Lawyer Who Can Get You $1 Million for Your Injury
Of course, your lawyer also makes a difference. As a general rule, you should look for several aspects concerning a lawyer you want to hire for your accident.
- Look for a lawyer who only does personal injury cases.
- Look for lawyers who have settled cases for $1 million or more.
- Hire a lawyer who really wants your case.
- Look for a lawyer who you feel you can get along with.
- Look for a lawyer who is willing to take the time to speak with you for a few minutes when you need to.
- Hire a lawyer that will not charge you a legal fee unless they get money for you.
- Hire a lawyer that will advance all case expenses for you.
Injuries Which Can Be Worth $1 Million or More
- Death
- Amputation
- Brain Injury
- Concussion
- Broken Bones
- Burns
- Scars
- Spine Injuries
All of these injuries can be worth $1 million or more but can easily be worth a lot less, depending upon the severity of the injury and the number of injuries.
A second-degree burn on your arm is definitely not worth anywhere near $1 million. However, a third-degree burn on your face can easily be worth $1 million or more.
Some Examples of Injury Values
Following are some settlements and jury verdicts my partner and I received:
$1.25 million settlement for a concussion
$1 million jury verdict after trial for a small brain bleed
$750,000 settlement for lower back surgery where the client had a pre-existing lower back injury
$567,000 jury verdict for a TMJ injury with surgery
$465,000 jury verdict for a torn meniscus with arthroscopic surgery
$300,000 settlement for an Achilles tendon tear with surgery
$150,000 settlement for a scar on a forearm
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