How Much is My Chicago Work Injury Case Worth?
Work injuries are not uncommon throughout the Chicago area. When a person sustains an on-the-job injury, they should be entitled to various types of compensation for their losses. This includes coverage of their medical bills and a significant portion of their lost wages. However, it is crucial to understand how much your Chicago work injury case is worth. The reality is that no two work injury cases are exactly alike, and there are various factors that can affect the value of a claim. When examining how much a Chicago personal injury claim is worth, we have to look at specific areas where individuals need compensation.
1. Medical Bills
In general, medical bills will be the most extensive part of a personal injury claim in Chicago. It is no secret that medical care is expensive in the United States. When someone sustains an injury caused by another individual, they should be able to cover compensation for all of their medical expenses, including:
- Ambulance transportation
- Emergency room bills
- Hospital costs
- Follow up doctor’s visits
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Prescription medications
- Medical devices
The total amount of compensation paid for medical bills will depend on the severity of the initial injury as well as how quickly in person is able to reach maximum medical improvement.
2. Lost Wages
It is not uncommon for injury victims to be unable to work after sustaining an injury. During the timeframe a person is unable to work, they should be able to recover compensation for their lost wages. Any time away from their job will be calculated appropriately depending on whether or not the individual is an hourly employee or a salaried employee.
In some cases, an individual will be unable to return to work in the same capacity, and they may not be able to return to work at all. When this occurs, loss of future earnings compensation will have to be properly calculated with assistance from trusted financial and economic experts.
3. Pain and Suffering Damages
There are various types of non-economic expenses that arise as a result of personal injury incidents. These types of damages are harder to calculate than economic losses like medical bills and lost wages. However, they’re certainly real.
Some of the most common types of non-economic damages recoverable for a Chicago personal injury claim include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional and psychological distress
- Loss of consortium for a spouse
- Loss of enjoyment of life damages
Properly calculating non-economic damages for a personal injury claim is more challenging because there are no direct bills or receipts that show pain and suffering losses. However, there are various methods that an attorney can use to demonstrate pain and suffering losses to insurance carriers or a personal injury jury.
Working With an Attorney
If you or somebody you care about has been injured as a result of the negligence of another individual or entity in Chicago, you need to reach out to a Chicago work injury attorney as soon as possible. These cases can become incredibly challenging, particularly when going up against aggressive insurance carriers or at-fault parties. However, an attorney can use their resources to handle every aspect of your claim. They will investigate the incident, determine liability, and vigorously negotiate with aggressive insurance carriers to recover the compensation you are entitled to. The value of a personal injury claim could range anywhere from a few thousand dollars to well over a million dollars.