The Value of a California Personal Injury Lawsuit
Victims of a personal injury accident in California can sue for compensation if they can prove causation and damages. However, knowing how much your case is worth requires the expertise of a financial expert and personal injury attorney. Keep reading to find out the value of the settlement and trial of personal injury cases in California.
Damage Award Given to Personal Injury Cases
In California, the median award given in damages for personal injury trials is $1,814,094, the average being $114,305. How much a California personal injury case is worth depends on the severity of the injuries the victim sustained. For example, a wrongful death case is worth $2,212,936, which is higher than the national average of $1,450,000.
Damages Award According to the Injury
California courts award different amounts in damages to personal injury cases, depending on the type of injury the victim suffered. Let us look at the different injuries and the median damages often awarded.
Neck and Strain
The median damages awarded to a back and neck strain is $10,885. The average amount is unavailable, but the median is typically more helpful than the average damages award.
Moreover, about 17 percent of the verdicts in California were back and neck strains, pulling the average and median verdicts down. Meanwhile, in California, plaintiffs win their personal injury cases approximately 41 percent of the time.
Disc Injury
The median damages award given for disc injuries in California was $84,550, which is higher than the national average of $50,000. The average award for disc injuries in California is likely much higher, but the statistics are unavailable.
Brain Injury
Verdicts on brain injuries are usually higher in California, although not as much as other types of injuries. The median damages amount awarded to brain injuries in California is $1,595,000, which is higher than the national median of $1,4000,000. We can rightly say that California juries put a higher value on personal injury cases than the average American.
California Wrongful Death Suits: Who Can File a Claim?
“California has a wrongful death law with a very modern view of who is qualified to file a lawsuit, which makes it more interesting,” says attorney Donald Colvin of Colvin Accident Lawyers. Under the state law, the potential beneficiaries entitled to bring a wrongful death claim include:
- The spouse or domestic partner
- Children
- Parents
- Stepchildren
Meanwhile, if the deceased does not have anyone qualified to file a wrongful death lawsuit, their estate can assert the rights.
Also Read: How Class Action Lawsuits Protect Consumer Rights
Conclusion
If you have suffered serious injuries or wrongful death in California, a reliable and experienced attorney can help you. They can help assess your case to determine if you can file a lawsuit and, if you can, its value. Working with experienced legal representation is helpful in ensuring you hold the defendant accountable for their actions against you. It is also a great way to ensure you are properly guided every step of the way.
