PRACTICE AREAS

What Is My Case Worth?

There are many variables which factor into the value of a personal injury claim. Although we list some of the more important factors to consider when valuing a personal injury claim below, please understand that these are only some of the factors. In addition to the factors listed below, you have to also consider the locale of the claim, the applicable insurance company, the age of the claim, and etc.

Main Factors To Consider When Evaluating Claims:

Severity of the Injuries: When evaluating a claim, one of the most important factors when considering its value is the severity of the injuries. In most instances, the more serious the injuries, the more the claim is worth. For example, an individual with soft tissue injuries will almost always be paid less money than a claimant with broken bones.

Medical Documentation: Proper medical documentation is always essential to the value of your claim. If you do not obtain the proper medical records, reports and billing documents, then the insurance company will not be able to properly evaluate your claim. In addition to obtaining the necessary medical documentation, one should also obtain reports, if necessary, on future medical costs, if any.

Severity of the Collision: It has long been argued that there is no correlation between property damage and bodily injury. However, insurance companies continually guage the value of a claim based upon the amount of property damage sustained in an auto accident. Therefore, an accident with $5,000 in property damage will always get more attention from the adjuster than an accident with $500.

Pre-Existing Injuries: When attempting to evaluate a claim for settlement, insurance companies may inquire as to whether your injuries were pre-existing. For example, you may have broken your arm the day before your accident, meaning that the insurance company will compensate you for the aggravation to the broken arm, but they will not compensate you for the broken arm itself, since it pre-existed the accident.

Amount of Insurance & Number of Claimants: The circumstances surrounding the accident, whether you were a passenger or driver, how many people where involved in the accident, and the types and amounts of insurance available all factor into the value of your claim. For a more detailed explanation of these variables, please see our Areas Of Practice page under “Personal Injury”.

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If you and/or a family member have suffered serious or fatal injuries due to an accident, you and/or the family member may be eligible to file a claim. However, persons seeking to preserve any potential legal claims should contact an attorney promptly because Texas has mandatory time periods ("Statute of Limitations") in which a lawsuit must be filed.