Barrie personal injury lawyers handle cases where at some point the client is concerned about the value of the claim. “How much is my claim worth?” is a typical question that some people ask right in the beginning, while others may come to that point a little later.

Obviously, what they also want to know is whether it’s worthwhile spending the time, effort and money on pursuing a claim that wouldn’t be beneficial to them or their family members.

Going through the claims process can be harrowing, especially when you’re recovering from the devastating physical, financial and emotional impact of a serious accident.

However, in the first meeting, our free consultation lawyers ensure that you receive a genuine, swift and honest evaluation of the claim and the right information and advice on the way forward.

Important Determinants

Some types of injuries are easy to assess, quantify and evaluate. Hence, the losses and damages may be easier to assess. For instance, actual expenditure on medical treatment and rehabilitation, out-of-pocket expenses, income loss etc are verifiable and can be documented. Certain other aspects are not so easy. For instance, the emotional pain and suffering that you undergo due to your injuries, the inability to resume work, take part in activities and social life like you used to, etc. are highly subjective but nevertheless just as real.

In our experience, there are several crucial factors that can affect the outcome of a claim. They include:

Provable source of income: As Barrie personal injury lawyers know, this is probably the single most important component of the settlement claim. Hence, it’s vital to the value of the claim.

Medical records: Clear, definite and chronologically sequenced medical records help to justify the expenses.

Referrals to specialists: Records of these add weight to claim, as they describe the nature and extent of your injuries. 

Tests, medical reports, diagnostics: These provide graphic and documentary evidence of your serious injuries.

Demonstrable changes to your lifestyle: Evidence of activities that you undertook previous to the accident, proof that you are unable to conduct normal routines etc are important clinching factors.

Nature of medical treatment required: Apart from the actual hospitalization, you may need further follow-up, physiotherapy, continued monitoring, vocational and occupational therapy, counseling etc. Ensure that you get information on the full extent of your injuries before you finalize the claim. Some claims focus on the diagnostics without paying much attention to the treatment. This could be counter-productive in the long run. Make sure that your treating doctors are qualified professionals like MD doctors. The value of your claim will be reduced if the treating doctors’ credentials are questioned.

Duration of treatment: For those victims who have suffered permanent disability or long-term damage, the claim must specify a planned documentation of expenses which cover present and future needs.

Finally, your credibility, the strength of evidence, possible contributory negligence, the over-riding cause of the accident and the at-fault party’s fault or violation of safety norms etc are some of the important aspects that determine the amount of settlement that your claim can achieve.