Were you hurt in a car accident, a slip-and-fall, or another kind of accident in Illinois? If someone else’s negligence was at fault for your accident, you can pursue compensation by filing a personal injury claim.
What are the average personal injury settlement amounts in Illinois? Accidents vary in several ways, including injury severity and cost of medical care. There is no real average when it comes to personal injury settlements. However, you can get a sense of what your personal injury claim is worth by discussing the accident with a lawyer.
Personal Injury Settlement Amounts in Illinois
Some cases result in so-called “nuclear verdicts,” with settlements or awards above $10 million. However, many personal injury cases are for much smaller figures. Different types of cases have different average settlements. An accident resulting in relatively minor injuries can settle for several thousand dollars, while an accident resulting in life-changing injuries may settle for millions.
Factors Affecting the Size of a Personal Injury Settlement
Factors affecting the size of a settlement include:
- Severity of injuries
- Cost of medical care
- Extent of medical treatment required
- Lost wages
- Lost lifetime earning potential
- Pain and suffering from injuries
- Lost enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress caused by an accident
- Type of accident
The type of accident affects the size of the settlement because some accidents result in more severe injuries than others. For instance, accidents with a big truck tend to cause more catastrophic injuries than accidents between passenger cars. Accidents in which a pedestrian or bicyclist is struck by a car also tend to result in severe injuries. If you need long-term nursing care or suffer any decrease in your lifetime earning potential, this can also increase the size of the settlement.
No Average Settlement
So many factors can affect the size of a settlement that there is no one meaningful “average” amount for personal injury settlements. Talk to a lawyer to determine how much your injury claim is worth. Your attorney might give you an initial estimate before investigating the facts of your case in detail.
Your personal injury lawyer will review your medical records and may discuss them with medical specialists to determine the true lifetime cost of your injuries. This is often much higher than the injured person assumes, but without the help of a lawyer, it can be difficult to collect full compensation.
Contact an Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer Today
Insurance companies would not be able to make a profit if they were too quick to pay the claims of injured people. That’s why they deny claims whenever possible and try to offer lowball settlements when they don’t think they can get away with a denial. You need the assistance of an experienced lawyer who is familiar with how insurance companies operate.
Your attorney can negotiate with the insurance company for a reasonable settlement and represent you in court if necessary. Bartholomew, Shevlin & Flack, LLP, is a personal injury law firm in St. Clair County, Illinois. If you need help with a personal injury claim, contact us today to get started with a free initial consultation.