What is my Case Worth?

In Utah, injured parties can be compensated for wage loss or other economic loss, medical expenses, and future medical expenses. These types of losses are called "special damages." You can also get compensated for pain and suffering. This is referred to as "general damages." Damages mean money.

Your medical expenses are the provider bills and related expenses. Often, well after initial treatment is completed, you may require more care such as additional surgeries, medication, physical therapy, etc. It is not uncommon for insurance companies to try to minimize your injuries, even to the extent of hiring doctors to say your injuries are not that serious, you will not need any future medical care, or that you could easily return to work.

Wage Loss is determined by how much work you missed due to your injury multiplied by your rate of compensation. As simple as it sounds, this formula can get complicated if you are self-employed due to improper record keeping, or have a claim that is considered speculative. Generally, you can establish a wage record from past year earnings. Future wage loss is also compensable. Your injuries may not allow you to return to your usual employment so we hire vocational rehabilitation specialists to determine what work you can do with your limitations. An economist can then establish a wage loss analysis to predict what your future wage loss may be. If you cannot return to any kind of work, then an economist can project your earnings loss over your expected lifetime.

Pain and suffering encompasses pain, or loss of quality of life (such as the inability to participate in activities with your family and friends, inability to engage in hobbies, sports, travel, etc., depression, and damage to relationships with loved ones, including sexual relations) due to a major injury. There is no set figure or formula that defines how much this amount should be. The truth is, no lawyer can tell you at the beginning how much you will get for your case until he or she has the medical records, bills, and wage loss analysis in hand. But I can give you a ballpark figure based upon an understanding of what happened to you.