How much is your personal injury claim worth? Most clients want to know that information before they decide whether to pursue litigation or hire a personal injury attorney to deal with their insurance company. Ohio residents are eligible to receive compensation for their financial losses, as well as noneconomic damages—but how do you calculate your financial losses?

Here’s some of the information your attorney will need, and how damages could be calculated:

• Property damage: If you suffered any property damage, such as a totaled car, total up the costs with insurance statements or repair bills.
• Medical bills: Next, total up your medical bills, including mental healthcare, physical therapy, medication and chiropractic care. This includes but isn’t limited to urgent care and emergency room visits, follow-up appointments, x-rays, blood work, mobility aids, occupational therapy and travel costs. Make sure to use the full amounts—not just the co-pays if you have insurance. Provide documentation, like insurance statements and the bills themselves.
• Estimated future medical expenses: You may need to have future medical care, especially if your injury was severe. This could be anything from a few years of physical therapy to a lifetime of closely monitored medical care. Include physical and occupational therapy, mental healthcare and other reasonably foreseeable expenses. Your doctor will likely provide you with a “forecast” of how long they expect you to need treatment, and what kind. This will give you a ballpark idea of what you can expect to pay over the coming months or years.
• Lost wages: Next, you’ll need to calculate your lost wages. If you used paid time off to recover, enter the monetary value you lost as if it were unpaid. If you work at a job at which you earn tips, your attorney can help you determine how to calculate this income based on past income. Pay stubs and previous tax returns can help provide a full picture.
• Future lost wages: Finally, you’ll need to calculate your future lost income. Again, pay stubs and tax returns will help your attorney determine how much you will lose over time.

Keep in mind that your dollar amount for may be different from what you actually receive. Issues like comparative negligence can affect the final judgment. Your attorney will calculate your total damages—including noneconomic damages—and give you an idea of what they think your claim is worth.

Learn More About Damages from an Ohio Personal Injury Lawyer

When you’re injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call me today at 877.944.4373 for a consultation. We’ll discuss your case and talk about how much your claim may be worth.