How Much Is My Arizona Personal Injury Case Worth?

The specific value of a personal injury case in Arizona depends on its unique facts, including the severity of the injuries, the extent of any financial losses, the overall impact on the injured person’s life, and their prospects for making a full physical recovery.

If you suffered injuries due to someone else’s negligence, an experienced personal injury lawyer from Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C., can review the facts and help you understand how much compensation you may be eligible to recover.

What Are Economic Damages in a Personal Injury Case?

Economic damages refer to the measurable financial losses caused by an accident. Because they’re based on objective financial information, economic damages often constitute the starting point when determining the potential value of a personal injury claim.

Common types of economic damages in Arizona personal injury cases include:

• Medical expenses, including emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, medication, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment
• Lost wages, from time missed at work during recovery
• Loss of future earning potential, if injuries affect a person’s ability to return to the same job or work at all
• Property damage, such as the cost to repair or replace a damaged vehicle or other personal property.

How Are Economic Damages Calculated?

Calculating economic damages typically involves reviewing documentation that shows the financial impact of the accident. Medical bills, treatment records, pharmacy receipts, repair invoices, and employment records can all help demonstrate the losses you’ve experienced. If necessary, your lawyer can also work with medical professionals or financial experts to estimate future medical costs or evaluate how your injury could affect your ability to earn a living over time.

What Are Non-Economic Damages in a Personal Injury Case?

Not every loss after an accident can be measured with bills or receipts. Fortunately, the personal and emotional effects of an injury that don’t have a clear financial value can merit compensation in the form of non-economic damages. These damages reflect how an injury can change a person’s daily life, relationships, and overall well-being.

Typically, non-economic damages awarded in Arizona  include compensation for:

• Pain and suffering, which refers to the physical discomfort and ongoing pain caused by an injury
• Emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, or other psychological effects you experience following the accident
• Loss of consortium, which refers to the impact an injury can have on a person’s relationship with their spouse.

How Are Non-Economic Damages Determined?

The value of non-economic damages isn’t based on receipts or invoices, and instead depends on the circumstances of your injury and how it affects your life. Attorneys, insurers, and courts consider a variety of factors when evaluating non-economic damages, including the severity of the injury, the length of your recovery, and whether you experience lasting limitations. Additionally, expert testimony can help show the extent to which the injury has affected your daily activities and overall well-being.

How Do Insurance Companies Calculate the Value of a Personal Injury Claim?

Insurers often begin by reviewing the documented financial losses tied to the accident. Medical bills, wage records, and property repair estimates help establish the economic damages in the claim. Adjusters then examine medical records and other evidence to evaluate the seriousness of the injuries, expected recovery, and the likely effect on a person’s ability to work and enjoy life in the future.

What Happens If My Damages Exceed the At-Fault Party’s Amount of Insurance?

Compensation in many Arizona personal injury cases initially comes from the at-fault party’s liability insurance policy. However, the available coverage may not fully cover an injured person’s losses, particularly if their injuries are serious or require long-term medical care.

If this happens in your situation, you’re not without options for financial recovery. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to pursue compensation through your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, or even bring a claim directly against the at-fault party to seek recovery for the remaining losses.

Will It Affect My Compensation If I Share Fault for the Accident?

Under Arizona’s pure comparative negligence rule, you may still be eligible to recover compensation if you share some responsibility for the accident, although the precise amount will be lower. How much lower will depend on your share of fault. If you’re found 25 percent responsible, your compensation will be reduced by that same 25 percent. Your personal injury attorney can review the evidence and push back against attempts to increase your share of fault and reduce your compensation.

What Can I Do to Protect My Ability to Seek Maximum Compensation?

The actions you take in the aftermath of an injury accident can have a significant impact on your ability to pursue the full and fair amount of compensation you deserve. The following are some things you can do to protect yourself and avoid jeopardizing your personal injury claim:

• Don’t admit responsibility for the accident.
• Go to a hospital right away for medical treatment.
• Carefully document your injuries.
• Work with your attorney to identify all potential defendants.
• File an insurance claim without delay.
• Understand the available insurance coverage and the limits of the applicable policies.
• Don’t give a recorded statement to the insurance claims adjuster.
• Don’t accept a quick settlement offer.
• Recognize your right to go to trial for maximum compensation, if necessary.
• Consult an Arizona personal injury lawyer before signing anything from the insurance company.

Get Help from an Experienced Arizona Personal Injury Lawyer

If you were hurt in an accident someone else caused, you may be entitled to compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. You shouldn’t try to go through this process on your own. Instead, reach out to Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C. Our full-service Arizona law firm has over 50 years of combined legal experience and offers the personalized attention of a small firm with the resources of a much larger one.

Read what our satisfied clients have to say about their experience with us, then contact our office to get started with an initial consultation.