Most personal injury cases will end with a settlement, which is an agreement between you and the other party for damages. Reaching a settlement is not always easy. It can be tough to figure out how much to ask for or the value of your case.
According to the Florida Statutes, you have the right to make a claim for any physical injuries and the expenses for the care of those injuries, pain and suffering, inconvenience, repairs to property and mental anguish. You may also have the right to a wrongful death claim and for money lost due to being unable to work. In determining the value of your case, you need to consider all of these aspects.
Look at actual expenses
You may have actual expenses that you can add up to get a figure. However, you also will likely have additional expenses in the future that you do not know the amount of yet. You may have to make an educated guess as to how much the injury will cost you in the long run.
Compare to other cases
One approach you can take is to look at the settlements or judgments for cases similar to yours. This will give you a basic idea of where to start, but it is not a definitive guide since every case is different.
Know your rights
You should make sure that you understand everything you can ask for in a settlement. Your attorney can advise you what to ask for and let you know what the law says. However, when it comes down to accepting the settlement and determining the value of your case, it is completely up to you.
