Before you accept a settlement amount from an insurance company for your injury, you need to learn what your slip and fall case is truly worth. If you settle too soon, you may be leaving thousands of dollars on the table. That is why it is so important to speak with a slip and fall attorney about your case.
So, how much is my slip and fall case worth?
When trying to discover how much your slip and fall case is worth, unfortunately, there is no simple answer. Every case is different. Depending on your injuries, your case could be worth a lot of money, but there is no way to know for certain how much compensation you are entitled to until an attorney evaluates your case in person. Before accepting any settlement offer, make sure that you, your attorney, and a medical profession have worked together to calculate each of the following damages in full:
Your Current Medical Expenses: Obviously, if your slip and fall accident leaves you with a broken arm, you are entitled to compensation for the cost of healing your arm. But you are also entitled to compensation for the cost of pain medication, whether prescription or over-the-counter and all other medical related expenses. Any time you meet with a doctor after the accident, make sure to get a copy of the bill for your records.
Future Medical Care: One of the most often overlooked factors is the cost of your long-term medical care. If you accept a settlement offer before considering the long-term effects of your injury, you may end up paying for future medical treatments out of your own pocket. This can total tens of thousands of dollars.
For example, if the insurance company offers to pay for your broken arm right away and you accept the settlement, you cannot go back and ask for more money if your injury does not heal correctly. Even if you need multiple surgeries in the years that follow your accident, once you have accepted a settlement, you cannot get more money.
Before accepting the insurance company’s settlement offer, make sure you fully understand your medical prognosis. Schedule an appointment with a medical professional to evaluate all the long-term effects of your injuries and speak with an attorney to make sure that you are getting the full and fair compensation that you deserve.
Your Lost Wages: If your slip and fall accident requires you to take time off work, you are also entitled to compensation for your lost wages. You can recover compensation for any time you had to take off (e.g., three hours for doctor’s appointments or full days that you needed to take off).
If your injuries prevent you from working your normal job, you may be able to get compensation for the difference in what you would have made if you had not been injured. For example, if you are a construction worker and your injury forces you to work a desk job with less pay while you recuperate, you can get compensation for the difference in pay.
Other Related Expenses: After a slip and fall accident, you will likely experience other expenses, e.g., parking fees at the hospital, gas to get there, hiring people to help around the house, etc. Make sure your settlement includes these.
Your Pain and Suffering: You can recover compensation for any pain and suffering you endured.
Is there anything else that might affect how much my case is worth?
Yes. Any fault you played in your accident will decrease your settlement. For example, if you slipped and fell in a grocery store while you were texting, you contributed to your accident and will likely recover less. The legal team at the Law Office of Jason R. Schultz, P.C. will work to calculate a fair settlement amount and defend you against any accusations of fault.
To schedule a free initial consultation with a slip and fall attorney in Georgia, contact the Law Office of Jason R. Schultz, P.C. at 404-474-0804.