How Will Your Attorney Estimate Damages in a Montana Personal Injury Claim?
One of the most common questions we receive from potential clients pursuing a personal injury case is how much their case could be worth. Because every personal injury case is unique, attorneys must review the details of your specific case before estimating the sum of money you could be awarded for your injury claim. This is also known as your “damages.”
Determine the Value of Your Economic Damages With a Montana Personal Injury Lawyer
Many of the damages included in Montana personal injury claims are intended to compensate the claimant for what they have lost because of their injury. Compensatory damages can cover economic expenses such as:
Past and future medical expenses
Reduced earning capacity
Property damage
Lost wages (including future lost income and benefits)
Household out-of-pocket expenses
Physical therapy
Funeral costs
Reconstructive surgery
In-home rehabilitation
Disability
Rental car costs
Motor vehicle repairs
Ambulance ride
Emergency medical treatment
Because economic damages typically already have a dollar amount attached, these losses are relatively simple to quantify. Your attorney will utilize copies of your medical bills, repair invoices, and other documentation of your expenses to uncover the total sum of your economic damages.
How Do Montana Personal Injury Attorneys Assess Non-Economic Damages?
Unlike economic damages, non-economic damages do not come with a solid number. A person's physical, psychological, and emotional pain is subjective, so landing on an accurate monetary value for these damages can be a challenge.
An experienced Montana personal injury lawyer will have the skills necessary to establish a fair financial value for your non-economic damages, including:
Pain and suffering
Change in lifestyle
Loss of consortium
Mental anguish
Loss of personal enjoyment
In some rare cases, victims are also eligible to receive an award for punitive damages, which are awarded in personal injury cases in which the defendant's conduct was found to be malicious, outrageous, or grossly negligent. Awards for punitive damages are intended to punish negligent parties and deter others from acting similarly. Although punitive damages are not applicable in many Montana personal injury cases, a Morrison, Sherwood, Wilson, and Deola attorney can help you determine the types of compensation you may be entitled to following your accident.
The compensation amount for damages associated with Montana personal injury claims is usually negotiated between the injured and at-fault parties, their insurance companies, and their respective attorneys. However, if a reasonable recovery amount is unable to be agreed upon outside of court, the case will proceed to trial where your attorney will argue your right to fair compensation recovery, and a judge or jury will decide the value of your damages.
Recover Damages for a Personal Injury With a Trusted Helena, Montana Attorney
Putting a dollar amount on the damages accrued from an accident is a challenging process, but a personal injury attorney may be able to help you define the value of your unique claim. Our team will assess the specific details of your case, such as your injuries, your recovery process, the amount of insurance coverage available, how the accident happened, and your expenses related to your accident.
When you need an estimation of the total value of your personal injury claim, you need to consult a trustworthy lawyer. At Morrison, Sherwood, Wilson, and Deola, we believe insurance companies should treat people fairly and that Montanans who are wrongfully injured should be fully compensated for their damages. Discuss your personal injury claim and explore your legal options with a Morrison, Sherwood, Wilson, and Deola attorney in Helena, Montana. Call (406) 442-3261 or complete our contact form today to schedule your appointment.