What Is the Average Personal Injury Settlement Amount?

Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers | Personal Injury Lawyer Near St. Petersburg Florida

What Is the Average Personal Injury Settlement Amount?

A common question people ask during a free consultation with our personal injury lawyers is, “What is the average personal injury settlement amount in Florida?” However, realistically, a better question to ask an injury attorney is how much is my claim worth?

The value of a personal injury claim is based on the unique factors and circumstances in the case. Therefore, instead of basing the value of your personal injury case on the average settlement for other cases, our legal team personalizes our approach and focuses on the factors in your case that impact how much you can receive for your claim.

Factors That Impact the Average Personal Injury Settlement in St. Petersburg, FL

Our legal team analyzes the factors of your case to determine how they affect how much your claim is worth. Some factors may increase the value of damages, while others could decrease them.

Factors that could affect how much you receive for a personal injury claim include:

  • The injuries you sustained because of the accident or incident
  • Whether your injuries cause long-term disabilities or impairments
  • The length of your recovery period
  • The type of medical treatments required for your injuries
  • The cost of your financial losses and expenses
  • Your appearance before and after your accident (i.e., disfigurement and scarring)
  • The parties involved in your case
  • Whether you received prompt medical care or delayed medical treatment
  • The strength of the evidence proving the other party is liable for your injuries
  • Whether you could be partially at fault for causing your injuries (i.e., contributory fault)
  • The availability of insurance coverage for your claim

Other factors could impact your claim as well. We do not leave anything to doubt. Our investigations are thorough, so we are prepared for all issues the insurance company might raise in your case.

What Damages Can I Receive for a Personal Injury Claim?

The damages in a personal injury case compensate you for your losses and harm. They include economic damages such as:

The monetary damage is only one factor in the average personal injury settlement. Victims may also receive compensation for non-economic damages, including:

In addition to compensatory damages, you might receive punitive damages. Juries award punitive damages in a small number of personal injury lawsuits. You must prove that the defendant acted with gross negligence or intentional misconduct to receive punitive damages. The burden of proof for punitive damages is higher than the level of proof for compensatory damages.

Even though we may aim to settle your personal injury case before going to court, punitive damages could still influence how much you receive. Insurance companies do not pay punitive damages unless the case goes to trial and the jury awards punitive damages. Our lawyers use the possibility of punitive damages during negotiations to argue for the maximum value of damages.

How Can an Attorney Help You Maximize a Personal Injury Settlement in St. Petersburg, FL?

Another factor that impacts the average personal injury settlement in Florida is whether the victim hires an experienced lawyer. Victims who hire personal injury lawyers tend to receive a higher settlement amount than victims who represent themselves.

Things that personal injury attorneys do to help clients recover the money they need and deserve include:

The burden of proof for a personal injury case is by a preponderance of the evidence. Therefore, your evidence must prove that there is a greater than 50% chance the allegations you make are true.

Evidence in a personal injury case includes:

  • Physical evidence from the accident scene
  • Testimony from eyewitnesses and parties in the case
  • Videos and photographs of the accident and/or scene
  • Medical records
  • Testimony from expert witnesses, including accident reconstructionists, medical specialists, financial professionals, etc.

An attorney understands the law and the evidence needed to prove your case. They have the resources to investigate what led to your injuries and gather evidence proving your claim.

Determine the Statute of Limitations for Your Claim

The statute of limitations restricts the time injured parties have to file a personal injury lawsuit (usually two years in Florida, but there are exceptions). Once the time expires, you lose the right to proceed with a legal claim in court.

An attorney determines the statute of limitations for your case. Exceptions to the rules could change the date in your case. Then, your lawyer monitors the deadline to ensure a lawsuit can be filed if settlement negotiations fail.

Correctly Calculate the Value of Damages

The insurance company is not a trusted source for the value of your damages. Insurance companies undervalue damages to avoid paying large claims. Therefore, if the insurance company offers you a settlement, your claim could be worth much more.

Experienced injury lawyers can value your damages correctly. They may retain experts to assist with evaluating damages, especially when the claim involves future damages for permanent impairments.

Defend You Against Accusations of Contributory Fault

Florida recently modified its contributory fault laws to add a bar amount for personal injury damages. You are barred from recovering damages if you are 51% or more at fault for causing your injuries. 

If your level of fault is at or below 50 percent, you can still recover damages. However, the court reduces the damages awarded by your percentage of fault. For instance, if the jurors decide you are 15% to blame for a car accident, your damages are reduced by 15 percent. 

Note that this law does not apply to car accident claims against your “no-fault” personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. However, if you are eligible to file a car accident claim against the opposing party for more compensation, it may come into play. 

A trusted personal injury lawyer can work to minimize the level of fault you’re assigned and also help you determine your legal rights and options following any kind of injury or accident.

Get Help for Your Case During a Free Consultation

You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, expenses, and losses from a personal injury or accident. Call today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We work with our clients to seek justice for what happened to them.

Contact the Pinellas County Personal Injury Law Firm Of Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers for Help

For more information, please contact the Clearwater and St. Petersburg personal injury law firm of Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.

We serve Pinellas County and its surrounding areas:

Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater
1875 N Belcher Rd. STE 201,
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 796-8282

Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Petersburg
2560 1st Ave S,
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
(727) 349-1728