Florida Personal Injury Settlement Calculator
Some injuries come at a high cost. For instance, a car accident could leave you with thousands of dollars in medical bills. It could also keep you out of work for months. But the financial burden doesn’t need to weigh you down. If you file a personal injury claim, you may be able to receive money for your bills and more.
By working with a personal injury lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, you can dramatically improve your chances of a fair outcome. This Florida personal injury settlement calculator can help you, as can a lawyer at Friedland & Associates.
Calculating Damages
If you want to determine the worth of your case, you could come across a few challenges. Personal injury claims are complex, and the value of your case might not be obvious. Before you start calculating damages, you should determine whether or not you have a claim.
In Florida, you can file a personal injury claim if the other party acted in a negligent way. Even if you are partially to blame, you can still recover damages. If you question whether or not the other party was negligent, you should speak to a personal injury attorney in Fort Lauderdale.
If your case is legitimate, you can start determining the value of your claim. To calculate your damages, you need to add up all of the following:
Non-economic Damages
These damages are the ones that are most difficult to determine a value for. Typically, they include pain and suffering, loss of companionship, loss of enjoyment, and inconvenience, among others.
Economic Damages
These damages are easier to calculate because they have a clear monetary value. Usually, they include past medical bills, future medical bills, property damage, and lost earnings. They also include any property damage and other out-of-pocket expenses.
Punitive Damages
Although punitive damages are rare, you should consider them. These damages are a punishment for the negligent party. The value has nothing to do with the expenses of the accident.
The Multiplier
One of the most important factors in your calculations is the multiplier. The multiplier a number you use to multiply the damages. When you receive that number, you add it to your other damages. This gives you an estimate of the worth of your claim.
Determining the value of the multiplier can be difficult. In most cases, the number is between 1.5 and five. However, it can vary. All of the following help determine the multiplier’s value:
- The seriousness of the injuries
- Types of medical treatment received
- Amount of future medical treatment
- Long-lasting effects of the accident
- Impact on day-to-day life
In cases that involve severe and permanent injuries, the multiplier is higher. Therefore, it makes the total value of your claim higher. It’s usually up to your lawyer to fight for a better multiplier. When they are negotiating for the settlement, they need to show why you deserve more.
Other Important Factors
There are some other factors that can impact the value of your claim. Each state has certain laws that can affect your claim. In Florida, comparative fault and damage caps could affect your amount of compensation.
Comparative Fault
After you calculate the damages, it’s important to consider comparative negligence. According to state law, you can receive money for an accident in which you share the blame. But you can only receive a percentage of the compensation.
For example, the court could say that you are 40% at-fault for an accident. You would only receive 60% of the total damages awarded to you.
Damage caps
Some states don’t allow you to recover more than a certain amount of money for your claim. However, Florida is not one of those states. There are no damage caps for most personal injury claims. In fact, the Florida Supreme Court declared medical malpractice caps unconstitutional.
There is a cap on punitive damages. However, it is very rare for claims to result in punitive damages. Most claimants don’t need to consider this type of cap.
Is There an Accurate Florida Personal Injury Settlement Calculator?
Estimating your personal injury claim is a complex process. For that reason, there’s no single calculator that can approximate your settlement.
If you want accurate results, you should work with a personal injury attorney. Friedland & Associates can tell you more about your potential settlement. Contact us for help.
