NH Lawyer Blog

Putting a Dollar Amount on Your Injuries

Nothing affects how much a car accident is worth more than the type or extent of your injuries. The more money you will spend or have spent to recover from those injuries can easily increase the amount you will receive in a settlement. These are referred to as your medical special damages and are the biggest factor in determining how much your case is worth.

How Injury Type Affects the Value

The hardest part of estimating the value of a claim is putting a price tag on a person's pain and suffering. Because damages are mainly there to compensate a person financially and emotionally, the extent of the injury plays a large role in determining the overall compensation. If an injury is severe or even life threatening, then it will receive a higher compensation amount than a typical injury.

Soft Tissue versus Hard Injuries

There are two types of injuries insurance claims adjusters will classify injuries into:

  • Soft Tissue  This can create discomfort and has injuries that are more common for people to suffer from after a car accident.
  • Hard Injuries  These require dedicated medical support and are only detected through specialized medical equipment - and are the more complex types of injuries to treat.

Understanding Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injuries, such as whiplash, are based on a client's complaints are cannot focus on medical tests for detection. These can include injuries like:

  • Back pain
  • Neck pain
  • Ankle or knee pain
  • Referred pain
  • Ligament pain
  • Nerve damage
  • Other soft tissue injuries

Soft tissue injuries are rarely permanent or dangerous; therefore, they receive a lower settlement than other types of injuries. While some people can suffer from chronic pain or injury, most of these injuries will resolve after a few weeks or months of treatment.

Understanding Hard Injuries

Hard injuries are more serious and those who have hard injuries are typically awarded higher compensation. They often receive four to five times the special damages award and can be specifically diagnosed via a medical test - such as an x-ray. Some categories of hard injuries can include:

  • Broken Bones - X-rays can show broken bones, including minor breaks. The more serious the break, the more in compensation the victim will receive.
  • Head Injuries - If someone suffers from a head injury after an accident, then it is easier to prove via a CT scan or MRI. The more severe the head injury, the higher the compensation for the injured victim. Often serious head injuries will result in thousands of dollars in medical costs, which is the main reason they are paid out at a higher amount than other injury types.
  • Ligament Tears - Ligament tears are extremely painful and can require months to recover - including surgeries. These are given a higher multiplier formula than broken bones because of their complexity.
  • Spine Injuries - Spinal cord injuries are easily documented and can be seen with an X-ray or CT scan. The more severe the spine injury, such as someone that is paralyzed because of their spine injury, the higher the multiplier used to compensate the victim for their injuries.

Want to Know How Much Your Claim is Worth? Contact an Attorney at Lucas Law

If you were injured in a car accident, contact the car accident attorney New Hampshire at Lucas Law. We offer free consultations and can review the facts of your case to determine the right value of your case. The only way to truly estimate your settlement is by assessing your losses - and we can help. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule your appointment.