Personal Injury Lawyer St. Paul MN
If you have been injured because of another person’s negligence, you may want to consider retaining a personal injury lawyer St. Paul MN residents can count on. JOHNSTON | MARTINEAU PLLP is a law firm well versed in the intricate laws encompassing personal injury claims. Armed with a wealth of knowledge and a determination to reach a successful outcome, we have built an established reputation clients’ can feel confident in. If you would like to speak with a St. Paul personal injury lawyer, please call our firm now.
What is my personal injury claim worth?
Whether you have been injured in a car accident, slip and fall, or other kind of injury, you may wonder what your claim is worth. The answer cannot be accurately given without knowing the exact details of your claim which is why you should consult with a personal injury lawyer St. Paul MN offers. That being said, in general, a lawyer will examine the total damages to figure out what the injury has cost you financially, physically, and mentally.
Understanding Damages in Personal Injury Cases
The majority of personal injury damages are considered to be “compensatory”. This means they are meant to compensate the victim or plaintiff for anything that was lost as a result of the injury. Some damages are easy to assess and assign a numerical monetary value to; for example, reimbursement for property damage or medical bills. However, it’s difficult to assign a value on pain and suffering, the loss in the quality of life, or even a wrongful death. This area of damages is prone to being taken advantage of by insurance adjustors, which is why you should have a personal injury lawyer St. Paul MN trusts on your side. The most common damages which can be included in a claim are:
Hospital and medical treatment: Any medical care you have had, or will need to have, can be included in your claim. This is not limited to hospital treatment, but also prospective treatment such as therapy or rehabilitation.
Lost income: If your injury has had an impact on your job and salary, a personal injury lawyer in St. Paul MN may be able to include it the settlement value. This amount is not limited to what you have lost from the inability to work, but also includes what you would have been able to make in the foreseeable future.
Property loss: If property such as vehicles, computers, or personal items, were damaged in the accident, you may be entitled to compensation or reimbursement for repairs. This value is typically based upon the current fair market value of the property.
Pain and suffering: A personal injury lawyer St. Paul MN depends on may assess the pain and discomfort you have experienced and determine an amount that is fair and just.
Emotional distress: In general, this damage is only relevant in serious accidents that leave a psychological imprint such as PTSD, insomnia, and anxiety, on the victim.
Loss of enjoyment: If you have lost out on the ability to enjoy life or partake in hobbies you once enjoyed, damages might be tallied into your claim.
Loss of consortium: Some accidents may lead to relationship problems with the victim’s spouse or partner. For instance the inability to maintain a healthy sexual relationship could be counted as loss of consortium damages.
Punitive damages: Only applicable in select claims, punitive damages may be awarded on top con any compensatory damages when a defendant’s’ actions are particularly carelessness. These damages are considered to be a “punishment” in hopes of deterring the defendant from making the same mistake again.
If you would like to know more about how damages work, or would like an estimated value of your own claim, please call a personal injury lawyer St. Paul MN has to offer at 877-791-7790.