Estimating how much compensation you are likely to receive after suffering a personal injury through no fault of your own can seem complicated
. The amount you receive can vary dramatically depending on your personal circumstances and the circumstances of your accident. Each claim is unique and therefore it is not possible to make a guess as to how much you will be entitled to.
To determine the amount your claim may be worth you must understand the types of damages you may be eligible to receive compensation from. Generally you will be eligible to receive compensation for the following; Medical care and any related expenses that may exist, loss of income due to the accident because you have been unable to work or receiving treatment for your injuries. Any permanent physical disability or disfigurement caused, loss of ability to participate in social, family or educational purposes. You can also claim for emotional upset such as stress, embarrassment, depression or any psychological impact the accident may have had on your well being.
When attempting to calculate your compensation amount it is fairly easy to work out the amount of medical expenses and loss of earnings you have suffered. It may be much harder to work out the amount owed to you through psychological issues and missed experiences due to the accident. At the beginning of negotiations your solicitor will add up the amount of medical expenses and the loss of earnings, these are commonly referred to as, 'general damages.'
If the injuries you have sustained are minor then the solicitor may decide how to add them to the general damages and complete your claim fairly easily. If the injuries are serious, long lasting or severely painful then the solicitor may opt to multiply the general damages by much more in order to consider any future loss of earnings, treatment or pain caused by the accident.
Another factor that will be considered in a personal injury claim is the amount of fault of the other party. The degree of fault by the other person is also considered when adding up the total claim amount.