After your accident, it may feel like you’re drowning in a sea of debt. Without financial assistance, you may not be able to take care of your family anymore. With such stresses to bear, it’s no wonder that getting compensated for your injuries is first and foremost on your mind. Keep in mind: you don’t have to pay your bills on your own. Not only should you want compensation, but you deserve it.
You may wonder: What kind of compensation am I eligible for? Well, there are numerous factors that courts and insurance companies consider when determining the amount of compensation for an injury case in San Francisco. Some factors will increase your amount of compensation while others may, unfortunately, decrease it. In understanding the factors surrounding your injury, you can have a better understanding of the compensation that your injury lawyer can seek during your lawsuit.
The first and most important factor to consider is what will increase your compensation. To put things simply: the greater the pain, the greater the compensation. That is, serious injuries such as broken bones, nerve damage, vertebrae injury, and other more long-term injuries will increase compensation. The reason for this is that the severity of the accident will directly correlate to the medical expenses as well as the length of recovery. Surgeries and physical therapy can be expensive, and courts also take into account how this injury will disrupt your daily life. This means that the current lost wages and future lost wages will be included in your compensation, so you will not be forced to work while you are recovering. In addition, having witnesses to testify to the accident can strengthen your case and therefore increase your compensation.
On the other hand, you should be aware of the factors that can decrease compensation. One is if your injury is not severe. Same as when you must be compensated for medical bills and therapy, if you don’t have extensive expenses, then you will not be extensively compensated. Also, if the court determines that you are at partial fault for the injury, you will also have reduced compensation by the percentage that the court determines you at fault for the accident. Although the thought of reduced compensation may seem nerve-wracking – do not fear. Having a seasoned injury lawyer in San Francisco fighting for you will make sure that any potential lowering factors will be countered so you can receive the highest compensation possible.
