If you were injured in an accident while you were working, it’s normal to be curious about how much money you can expect to receive from the settlement.
Hiring a work accident injury attorney in Houston, TX is the best way to ensure that you receive fair compensation for your damages and that your interests are represented if your case goes to court.
Ask a Work Accident Injury Attorney: How Much Can You Get From a Work Injury Settlement?
The amount of your settlement will be determined by numerous factors that vary from case to case, so there isn’t a set amount that your lawyer can guarantee you will receive.
While it would be convenient if there were a predetermined amount you could count on receiving, such as a specific dollar amount associated with each different type of workplace injury, no guideline like that exists.
The National Average
An internet search will show you the national average for worker’s compensation settlements hovers in the neighborhood of $20,000.
However, just because this is the average, don’t assume your case’s settlement will fall around this number.
Talking to an experienced worker’s compensation lawyer is the only way to get a rough estimate. Visit this page to find experienced lawyers in your area who can help you pursue the settlement you deserve.
Remember, a reputable lawyer will be the first to caution you that they can’t promise you a specific settlement amount; they can only offer an educated guess based on the details of your case.
There are multiple aspects of your case that will need to be considered when your settlement amount is being determined, such as:
Lost Wages
Wage replacement benefits are usually part of your settlement and are designed to cover a portion of your regular income.
Depending on the extent of your injury, you may be eligible to receive temporary total disability (TTD) benefits if you cannot continue working at all during your recovery period.
If you can work but not at the same capacity during recovery, you may receive supplemental earnings that compensate for lost income due to injury.
The effect on your current and future income-earning ability must be considered when assessing if a settlement offer is fair.
Injuries that negatively alter your ability to earn a living will require higher compensation than those that don’t.
Current Medical Expenses
If you are injured in an accident at work, you have the right to proper and thorough medical treatment.
Therefore, the medical expenses accrued because of your injury should be included in the settlement amount.
These expenses include emergency care, surgeries, follow-up visits, medications, necessary medical devices, and physical or occupational therapy.
As you receive medical care for your injury, keeping track of your medical bills and statements is essential.
By monitoring your expenses, you can ensure that your settlement amount accounts for all the care you receive.
Future Medical Expenses
Individuals with injuries that are expected to require ongoing medical care should only accept a settlement that considers future care costs.
Once you have accepted a settlement, you will not be able to reopen a case over the same injury.
That means if you underestimate the severity of your injury and the projected care costs, you could end up accepting a settlement that doesn’t adequately cover the costs of future care, setting you up for financial hardship.
One of the many ways a work accident injury attorney can benefit you is by assisting you in gathering the documentation you will need to prove that your medical expenses will be reoccurring. They can also help you determine whether the settlement amount you are being offered is reasonable.
Injury Severity
One of the most heavily weighted factors for determining the settlement offer is the severity of your injury.
Accidents in the workplace are typically grouped into three categories; soft tissue injuries, complex injuries, and severe injuries.
Soft tissue injuries include muscle and ligament strains and sprains, and contusions. These are the least severe type of injury, meaning insurance companies provide the lowest compensation for them.
Complex injuries cover issues like lacerations and broken bones. Finally, severe injuries consist of damage such as brain injuries, spine injuries, and permanent disfigurement, which have long-lasting effects on life quality.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering is considered a non-economic loss, meaning there isn’t a set amount for which the victim should be compensated.
The best way to gauge how much money you should expect to receive for pain and suffering is to look at successful settlements with similar circumstances to yours.
An experienced attorney in Houston, TX will have prior cases they can look at to predict if you should expect to receive compensation for your non-economic losses.
Contact a Houston, TX, Work Injury Attorney
When you search for an attorney to handle your worker’s compensation case, you’ll want to ensure the lawyer you choose has extensive experience in handling work injury cases.
Since employers work hard to protect themselves, even if it’s to the detriment of their employees, you want to be represented by a lawyer who is familiar with their tactics.
Make sure your workplace injury doesn’t impact your financial future. You deserve compensation for your losses if you’re injured on the job.
Finding a work injury attorney to handle your case is the first step toward securing a fair settlement.