The goal of personal injury law is to have the person responsible for the accident fully compensate the accident victim for the injuries. Although insurance companies are experienced in valuing personal injury claims, they know that you are unfamiliar with what your claim is really worth. Under New Hampshire law, injured people are entitled to recover full, fair and reasonable compensation for their injuries.
There is no simplistic formula or mathematical calculation to determine the value of a personal injury claim. Instead, the lawyer must make this determination based on years of experience in handling personal injury cases. Generally, the value of your claim is based on two factors: fault of the parties and the type of damages suffered.
Who’s At Fault?
The degree or amount of fault of each person involved in the accident factors into the value of your case. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, we can assess whether the other person was completely at fault, mostly at fault or just a little at fault. Insurance companies will try to reduce your recovery if you were partly at fault for the accident. If fault is clear on the other person, that will prevent the insurance company from using that tactic to lower your recovery.
Types of Recoverable Damages
Looking at the types of damages suffered in an accident can help to understand the value of your claim. Damage awards can include the following:
- Medical Expenses
- Future Medical Expenses (if any)
- Pain and Suffering
- Lost Wages
- Impairment of Earning Capacity
- Emotional Distress
- Loss of Future Enjoyment of Life
Above all, determining what a personal injury claim is worth only comes from years of experience. This is an important reason to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer.