The settlement value for a personal injury case depends entirely on the specific circumstances and case facts. There is no way to determine an average personal injury settlement in Virginia and have it tell you anything about the potential outcome of your case. Instead, you should focus on recovering maximum compensation based on your accident and injuries.
Working with a Virginia personal injury lawyer can help you understand your expenses and losses and pursue the money you need and deserve based on your case. You do not have to navigate this process on your own or guess at how much your case might be worth.
There Is No Way to Calculate an Average Personal Injury Settlement
When you look at a law firm’s case results, you will see a wide range of settlements, verdicts, and other payouts. Even when the injuries occurred in the same type of accident, the outcome of the case might vary widely.
How can it be that both victims received fair compensation?
The truth is that no two cases are alike. Even when victims are hurt in the same vehicle in the same crash, they will likely suffer very different injuries. Two victims with similar injuries may require different treatments and rehabilitation.
To recover compensation based on a personal injury, you need to document your expenses and losses, estimate your future care costs, and determine a value for your intangible “pain and suffering” and inconvenience. This makes managing these claims more complex than seeking an average payout, but it also ensures you seek fair compensation for your full range of recoverable damages.
What Factors Might Affect a Virginia Personal Injury Payout?
Many factors will affect your personal injury settlement in Virginia personal injury case. The number of things that can play a role in your payout can be overwhelming if you are handling your insurance claim and settlement negotiations on your own. Some of these factors include:
- The type and severity of your injuries
- The permanence of injuries suffered and the degree of lasting disability
- Whether you need future surgeries, therapies, medications, or equipment
- Whether you can return to your job or work any job
- The emotional distress and mental anguish suffered
- The actions or inaction of the liable party
- The limits of insurance policies available to cover the damages
- The quality and admissibility of the evidence supporting your case
- The knowledge and experience of your Virginia personal injury lawyer
Whether your case closes through negotiations or litigation could affect how much you recover, too. When a judge or jury determines the outcome of your case, you hand over control. During negotiations, you always have the option of rejecting an offer and continuing to fight for a larger payout.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Virginia Personal Injury Settlement?
Your recoverable damages play a key role in the potential value of your personal injury settlement in Virginia. One significant benefit of working with an experienced attorney is that they will know how to identify and document your current and future damages. This could prevent you from settling for a lot less than your case is worth.
Documenting your recoverable damages can be especially difficult if you have life-altering, catastrophic injuries that will require ongoing support or future medical care. This could include a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury.
In general, the types of recoverable damages in a Virginia personal injury case often include:
Economic Expenses
When victims think of their recoverable damages, they often only consider their economic expenses. These are the to-date costs and losses experienced because of their accident and injuries. Examples include medical bills, lost income, and other related expenses.
Future Costs
Many serious injuries require treatment, care, support, and monitoring beyond the initial phase of healing and rehabilitation. It is essential to consider these ongoing needs and future care costs before you agree to a payout from the insurance carrier. It can be difficult to determine how much money you might need to cover these costs on your own, but understanding the possible expenses is crucial to getting the care you need in the future.
If your injuries are severe enough, they might affect your work long-term, too. If you cannot return to your previous career, you might recover compensation for diminished earning ability.
Non-Economic Losses
Non-economic losses are the intangible damages suffered because of your “pain and suffering” and inconvenience. While they do not have a financial value, your attorney can help you determine a fair payout based on the facts of your case.
What Evidence do I Need to Document My Personal Injury Damages?
The evidence necessary to show how much your case might be worth includes more than showing what happened and who is legally responsible. You must document your recoverable damages. This could require:
- Medical bills
- Receipts
- Relevant medical records
- Income records
- Information from medical experts and others
Your personal injury lawyer will use this evidence to present a compelling case to the insurance company and liable party, seeking a settlement based on your damages and the circumstances of the case.
Generally, Va. Code § 8.01-243 offers victims up to two years to file a lawsuit. If your attorney cannot reach a fair settlement before this date approaches or there are other reasons to litigate the case, they will manage this process for you.
Discuss Your Virginia Injury Accident With Our Legal Team for Free
The Parrish Law Firm, PLLC, provides a FREE claim review for Virginia personal injury victims and their families. We can help you understand your rights and the strength of your case. Let us handle your claim or lawsuit. We will fight for the compensation you need and deserve based on the details of your accident and injuries.
Contact us via our online contact form or by calling our team today.
Call or Text 571-229-1800 or Complete a Free Case Evaluation form
