If you have sustained a personal injury due to the negligent actions of someone else, you may be considering filing a personal injury lawsuit. Your injury has impacted you physically, mentally, and monetarily, but exactly what is a fair price tag to place on your experience?

While how much you receive for your injury may vary based slightly based on the uniqueness of your case, the following are a few common factors that will play into the amount you are awarded.

1. Past, Present, and Future Medical Expenses

You are entitled to reimbursements for any and all medical expenses you have incurred or are currently incurring. These include those you have paid out of pocket, as well as those that may have been covered by your insurance company.

However, there is a catch. If your insurance company paid on your behalf and you receive reimbursement from the plaintiff or their insurance company, your insurance company has the right to come back and ask to be reimbursed.

You are also entitled to receive compensation for any future expenses that you may incur. While you may quickly recover from some injuries, other injuries may require you to have long-term care, future surgeries, medications, or therapies.

You will also be eligible to claim reimbursement for your mileage to and from medical appointments. Just make sure that you keep a written record. Depending on how far you have to travel and the time of your medical appointments, you may also be able to be reimbursed for meals on those days and an overnight hotel stay.

2. Loss of Earnings

If your injury has caused you to miss time out of work or left you unable to perform the job you have performed in the past, you are entitled to compensations. If it is anticipated that the accident will impact your future earnings, you may even be able to be compensated for your loss-of-earning capacity.

3. Out-of-Pocket Expenses

Make sure you save your receipts for any accident-related expenses you pay out of pocket following your accident. You may be able to get this money back as well.

These expenses can vary. You are entitled to reimbursement for something as simple as over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs, durable medical equipment, and home renovations that must be made to allow you to live comfortably in your home. Just remember that you will have to justify the medical necessity of any home renovations you make.

4. Needed Expenses

If the accident has left you unable to do certain things you did prior to the accident, you may be able to be reimbursed for having to pay someone else to do these things. This may include a housekeeper, lawn service, or a driver to get you to and from appointments.

5. The Extent of Your Injuries

The type of injuries you incur, as well as the severity of your injuries, will have a major impact on the worth of your personal injury case. While no one can put a price tag on your pain and suffering, the insurance company tends to associate certain levels of pain with certain types of injuries.

Injuries are often divided into two basic categories. These are:

• Soft tissue injuries, or those which cause discomfort but may not show up through medical testing. These may include strains, sprains, and whiplash.

• Hard injuries, or those that can easily be observed or identified by medical means. These may include fractions, dislocations, and displacements.

No matter what type of injuries you sustain, the injury and your treatment must be clearly documented in your medical records.

The Law Offices of Burton J. Hass will help you recover the personal injury compensation you are entitled to. If we are unable to get you a fair settlement, we have no problems taking your case to trial. Give us a call so we can review your case and get started.