Determine the value of your Ottawa personal injury case | Lawyer
Ottawa Lawyer — If you have recently been in an accident in Ottawa and are thinking of pursuing a personal injury case, you are likely wondering how much financial compensation you may be entitled to. A number of factors are at play when trying to determine the value of a particular personal injury case.
While there is no set formula for determining value, a case is usually worth the same amount as the damages suffered by the individual. These damages take into account medical costs, lost wages, property damage and lost earning capacity. Sometimes the value can be easily determined and in other cases, it can be more difficult, depending on the nature of the case. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you in the process of gathering the necessary information in order to determine the value of your case.
Injured individuals are entitled to compensation for tangible harms such as those listed above, but you my also be entitled to “intangible” damages. These include things like psychological distress, pain, depression, disability, etc. It is these intangible harms that can make a case difficult to assess. The value of these harms is subjective and thus, they do not have a specific monetary amount assigned to them. Assessing the value of things like mental anguish or inconvenience is more difficult and often takes longer, than assessing the value of medical costs, for example. While it may not always be easy to determine the value of a personal injury case, taking into account a variety of factors will help to provide the most accurate assessment.
Typically, both parties, along with their lawyers, make an estimate for how much the case is worth. The value is then either agreed upon during mediation, or if the case goes to trial, a judge or jury will make a ruling regarding the value and the financial compensation, if any, the injured person is entitled to.
Because of the complex nature of assessing the value of a personal injury case, it is in your best interest to work with a good personal injury lawyer who can guide you through the process and who can work on your behalf to suggest an accurate value for your case. If you have suffered a personal injury, it is in your best interest to work with a lawyer who has the knowledge and experience necessary to evaluate your case.
