Perhaps the most common question we are asked as Kansas City personal injury lawyers is "what is my case worth?" To answer this question, all the facts in each case must be weighed individually. There are no standard amounts for what any particular injury is worth. The nature and extent of the victims' injuries, whether or not there is a permanent disability, the amount of lost wages, and even the percentage of their own fault, if any, must all be factored into the equation.
When our Kansas City injury clients come for their initial consultation, we try to find out as much as possible about their injuries and their situation to assess whether or not they have a case warranting our services.
Although it's difficult to give an estimate of a claim's worth before the victim has finished their medical treatment, this doesn't mean that you should wait until you have finished recovering before consulting a lawyer. In fact, the opposite is true.
These are some of the factors we take into consideration when assessing the potential value of a claim:
1. Comparative fault: Sometimes the entire liability for the injury falls on another party, but in some cases the injured victim shares some of the fault for the accident. This can substantially lower the amount of recovery.
2. Seriousness of injuries: Will they heal, or will the victim be partially or fully disabled? Were there broken bones, internal injuries, or surgeries involved in the treatment? Does your physician think you will need continuing treatment? If so, what are the estimated costs? Medical evidence must be available to support these claims, such as CT scans, x-rays, etc.