When you are thinking about filing a personal injury claim, you are likely seeking for a sense of the value of your case. After all, you might be thinking that it may only be worth your time to go through the claims process if you are likely to obtain at least a certain amount of money as compensation for your losses. At Slate Stern Law, we want to emphasize that you should seek advice from a personal injury lawyer in Santa Fe who can assess the particular facts of your case in order to determine the possible value of your case. Without talking to an attorney who can evaluate your claim, it is almost impossible to provide a precise estimate for the worth of your claim. However, our experienced Santa Fe personal injury attorneys can provide you with some issues to consider for calculating a possible payout as you plan to speak with a lawyer about a more precise estimate.
Cost of Your Current and Future Medical Bills
The cost of your current (and already paid) medical bills, as well as your anticipated future medical bills as a result of your injury, will be a key factor in determining an amount of economic damages, which are a form of compensatory damages. You can seek compensation for the medical bills you already owe due to the injury in addition to those your healthcare providers anticipate.
Amount of Current and Future Lost Wages
Similar to current future medical bills, your compensatory damages award will likely include economic damages in the form of lost wages. If your injuries prevent you from working, you can seek compensation for the wages you have already lost as a result of the injury and that you are expected to lose in the future because of your continuing disability.
Pain, Suffering, and Mental Anguish
Most injury plaintiffs can also seek compensation for pain and suffering, and for mental anguish. This amount of compensation is often the most difficult to guess since the figure is a subjective one. Your personal injury attorney can help you to understand the factors that are likely to go into a non-economic damages award for pain and suffering or mental anguish.
Other Types of Damages
In some cases, an injured plaintiff may have other losses that we have not accounted for above and that may be eligible for compensation in the form of compensatory damages. In addition, some personal injury lawsuits allow the injured plaintiff to seek punitive damages. Although punitive damages are rare, when the defendant’s behavior was intentional or so negligent that it showed a clear disregard for your life and well-being, you may be able to seek punitive damages, which are designed to punish the defendant for wrongdoing but are paid to the plaintiff.
Contact Our Santa Fe Personal Injury Lawyers
Do you need assistance seeking compensation after a serious injury? Our experienced New Mexico personal injury lawyers can begin working with you on your case today. Contact Slate Stern Law today for more information.