Fort Lauderdale is a coastal city in Florida that is known for its beautiful scenery, fine dining, fashion, and entertainment, giving it the nickname “Venice of America.” Being located in Florida, Fort Lauderdale follows the comparative negligence system, meaning if you were found 20% at fault in an accident, you can still recover 80% of your damages.
Every PI case filed in Fort Lauderdale differs from the other, so what your claim is worth depends on your specific situation. Factors such as how badly you were hurt, how long it will take for you to recover, whether you can still do your job, and how the injury might affect you in the future all play a role in deciding what your claim is really worth.
A victim who chooses to get help from Levin Injury Firm in Fort Lauderdale stands a higher chance of getting a proper settlement. A good lawyer will go to great lengths to dig deep into the details. They’ll look at your medical records, talk to your doctors, get opinions from specialists, and speak to financial experts if needed. Their job is to figure out what your injury has truly cost you, not just right now, but in the months or even years to come.
Factors that Determine the Amount of Settlement You’ll Get
At the end of your PI claim, the final amount that comes to you as compensation is determined by the factors below:
Pain and suffering
If your injury makes it hard to walk, drive, lift things, play sports, or even just sleep comfortably, that affects your quality of life. If it’s caused anxiety, mood swings, depression, or stress, that’s part of the claim too.
These things can’t be measured in dollars and cents the way a hospital bill can, but they still count, and they can seriously affect your day-to-day life.
The more serious the injury and the more it disrupts your life, the more pain and suffering compensation you may be entitled to. Lawyers and insurance companies often use your medical records and recovery timeline to help estimate how much should be paid for this part of the claim.
Medical costs
The biggest part of any personal injury claim is the cost of medical treatment. That includes everything, not just the emergency room visit after the accident.
The cost of every follow-up appointment, test, scan, therapy, X-ray, MRI, specialist consultation, surgery, medication, rehabilitation, assistive devices, and mobility aids will be factored into the amount.
Long-term impact on your life
Some injuries take a long time to heal. Others never fully go away. The long-term impact of your injury can be just as important as the immediate costs.
Even if you seem to be coping, the fact that your life is different because of the injury matters. A good lawyer will take all of this into account when they calculate the real value of your claim. Your lawyer will make sure that you are compensated for how the injury will continue to affect your life in the future.
Lost income and earning capacity
If your injury stopped you from going to work, the money you lost during that time is part of your claim. This includes your regular wages, bonuses, overtime, and even things like sick leave or annual leave you had to use because of the accident.
Furthermore, if your injury means you can’t go back to the same job, or you can’t work the same hours, or you need to take a lower-paying role because of physical limitations, that loss of future earnings is also part of the claim. This is called loss of earning capacity.
You’ll usually need documents like pay slips, tax returns, and statements from your employer to prove how much you were earning before the injury. Experts can also work out how much you are likely to earn in the future based on your age, career path, and education.