Many personal injury victims wonder how much their case is worth. This is a question that is hard for the Boise personal injury lawyer to answer, especially during the early stages of a case. There are a number of factors that contribute to the value of a case. Many of those factors are difficult to estimate accurately until months or years after the accident. That is why it is often difficult for attorneys to answer this question. That is why it is often not possible to get an estimate of how much a case is worth. It is helpful for victims to understand what contributes to the value of a case so that they can get an idea of how much it could be worth. However, any estimates are likely to be wildly inaccurate for months or even years after the accident. First of all, the amount of negligence on each party contributes to the value of a personal injury case. The Boise personal injury lawyer will try to prove that the other party is at fault. If any of the negligence is on the victim, that can significantly reduce the value of the case. In many instances, the other party is completely responsible for the accident. That means there is no deduction with regards to negligence. The next thing that determines the value of a case is the extent of the injuries. The value of the medical injuries is somewhat related to the amount of medical expenses incurred. The medical expenses incurred by insurance carriers need to be paid out of the eventual settlement. That is why it is important for personal injury victims to keep track of the medical bills incurred. As medical expenses are added, the amount of the settlement goes up. That will help the victim keep as much of the final settlement as possible. The lingering pain and suffering will help increase the final amount of the settlement as well. This is usually proven by medical documentation from the victim's physicians. Because the settlement pays for all medical expenses, including past expenses as well as future expenses, the Boise personal injury lawyer will want to delay the settlement until an accurate estimate can be made by the victim's physicians. That means the doctor needs to be able to give an estimate of lifetime medical expenses related to the accident along with a long term prognosis. Only then can the personal injury attorney send a demand letter to the other party to pay for full damages. This is when negotiations on a settlement value begins for the personal injury case. In rare cases, punitive damages can be a part of a case. The Boise personal injury will seek punitive damages to increase the value of a case when it is possible. Usually, punitive damages are only allowed in certain circumstances where there is gross negligence such as when the other party was driving under the influence in an auto accident. Most personal injury victims will not be able to seek punitive damages. Finally, the value of a case can change significantly depending on what happens in depositions and at trials. For example, a deposition where the victim says damaging things can reduce the value of a case. The same thing can happen during the court trial as well. Juries can be quite unpredictable when it comes to personal injury cases. The court trial can go against either side with regards to case valuation. That is why it desirable for both the boise personal injury lawyer and the insurance company to settle rather than to go to trial.
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