What Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?

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6 min read

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Feb 2, 2025

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One of the first questions clients ask their lawyers is how much they think their personal injury case is worth. While it is understandable to want to know how much money they could receive, the answer is not straightforward. Every case has unique qualities, and many factors will influence the value of your case.

Whether you were injured by a negligent driver or the victim of a slip and fall, the value of your personal injury claim will be based on the injuries and losses you suffered. Your personal injury attorney can investigate your accident and compile a list of damages to pursue for compensation. Additionally, any compensation you recover should cover your immediate needs and any future issues that could arise because of the injuries you sustained in the accident.

The Value of Your Personal Injury Case Is Based on Your Damages

When considering what an injury victim should receive for their injuries and losses, your personal injury attorney will consider the various types of damages that their client has suffered:

Compensatory Damages

All personal injury claims will contain compensatory damages, which are the actual expenses incurred due to the injury. A victim’s compensatory damages must take into consideration multiple factors. It is not just what the victim lost in emergency medical expenses and income. Compensatory damages cover the economic and non-economic losses the victim has endured.

Economic damages have a direct dollar value attached to them. They can be demonstrated with bills, receipts, and invoices. Non-economic damages, on the other hand, deal with the victim’s diminished quality of life. Not only should your compensation cover past losses, but it should also include possible future expenses to accommodate your new condition.

Some of the possible damages in your personal injury case may include any of the following:

Medical bills: Your compensation should cover any emergency medical services, hospital stays, doctor’s visits, medications, transportation, medical devices, and any handicap vehicle or in-home modifications.
Rehabilitation and therapy: In addition to your medical care is the rehabilitation needed to recover from the accident, which could include occupation therapy, physical therapy, and emotional and mental counseling.
Pain and suffering: You may recover damages for the physical pain and emotional suffering you experienced from the accident, during your recovery, and after.
Loss of enjoyment of life: Whether it is due to a permanent disability or emotional trauma, if you can no longer enjoy hobbies and activities you once did, you can seek compensation for this loss in your quality of life.
Loss of consortium: The strain an accident can have on a family is a serious concern, and sadly, it can lead to marital issues. If your accident has affected your relationships, your attorney can request damages for you.
Lost wages: Time off from work while you recover from the injury can be pursued through a personal injury claim. Depending on the circumstances of your employment, this damage may include bonuses and tips. You may even have grounds to request financial compensation for lost promotions.
Reduced earnings: If your injuries are permanent and affect your ability to return to your old job, or you are unable to work at all, you can seek compensation for this loss.
Property damage: If a vehicle or other property was damaged or destroyed, repair or replacement values will be included in the personal injury claim.

These are just some of the possible damages that could be included in your personal injury claim to the insurance companies. Your accident attorney can compile a full list for you.

Wrongful Death Damages

If you and your family have just lost a loved one in a negligent accident, we are sorry for your loss, and you deserve the time to grieve. Money cannot replace your lost loved one, but the compensation you receive from a wrongful death case could help you and your family recover. A wrongful death attorney can assist in your pursuit of fair compensation.

Punitive Damages

Some clients may receive punitive damages from their cases. Punitive damages are meant as a punishment. They are levied against the defendant if the courts find that their negligent actions were harmful. Most personal injury cases only have compensatory damages, with only rare, extreme cases including punitive damages.

Factors That Can Influence the Value of Your Personal Injury Claim

Beyond collecting evidence on your damages, you also need to consider other factors that influence the value of your personal injury case. Some of these factors include:

The severity of the injury and whether there will be any permanent or lasting disability
How much insurance coverage or assets the at-fault party has to cover the claim
Whether the victim’s statements can be validated with evidence
The victim’s percentage of fault in the accident
How the injury will impact the victim’s career and future

All these factors contribute to the value of the case and make the claim process very complicated. Investigating the accident to collect evidence of negligence and negotiating a fair settlement agreement with the defendant and their legal team is why personal injury claims can take several months to a few years to resolve.

You Have a Limited Amount of Time to Resolve Your Claim

In most instances, once your attorney has built your case, they will submit your personal injury claim to the liable party’s insurance company. However, each state carries a statute of limitation. This is a legal deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit. For example, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit in a Georgia court under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33.

If you and the insurance company cannot reach a fair settlement, you can take your case to court and have the court decide the value of your case. Be advised that a lawsuit could also influence the value of your case. You may receive a much larger court award, but the legal process removes any control you may have. Alternately, if the statute of limitations expires, you could be left with whatever low settlement value the insurance company decides.

Call the Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown About the Possible Damages in Your Personal Injury Case

If you have been injured by a negligent party, it is worth your time to contact the Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown. With over 30 years of experience, our personal injury lawyer can evaluate your case and explain your legal options.

For a free personal injury consultation, call our office to speak to our legal team.

Posted on behalf of Dwayne L. Brown

3390 Peachtree Rd NE, Suite 1100
Atlanta, GA 30326

Phone: (404) 738-6000

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Testimonials

My family and I met Attorney Dwayne Brown after the unfortunate accident involving my niece. Attorney Brown did an exceptional job representing my family. He was the consummate professional, and treated my family with the utmost dignity and respect. As a result of his representation, my family was able to achieve a substantial settlement in our case. Although we obviously did not get our loved back, we are prayerful that we met Attorney Brown. My family would highly recommend Attorney Brown to anyone in a similar situation.

Rafiq A.

An excellent and professional lawyer. He took on a car accident case on my behalf, worked with me from across the country, and was just as vigorous in his pursuit of justice on day 912 as he was on day 1.

Michael L.

Attorney Brown represent me on a case involving a motor vehicle. Another attorney indicated they could not help and I was recommended to attorney Brown by a well-respected member of my community. Attorney Brown resolved my case to my absolute satisfaction and did an excellent job. I highly recommend his services.

Nikia S.

Attorney Brown is simply the best! Very communicative, hard working and he puts his clients first. I'm a stickler when it comes to customer service and I got nothing but first class service!

Keitron G.

Attorney Brown is simply the best! Very communicative, hard working and he puts his clients first. I'm a stickler when it comes to customer service and I got nothing but first class service!

They were very good with helping with my case, they made sure I was well updated on everything involving my case and they are very nice people.

Gabby H.

I know Dwayne personally and have worked with him many times professionally. You won't find a more ethical, hardworking lawyer. He truly cares about his clients' welfare and getting them back on their feet, moving forward empowered.

Ryan R.

$11,500,000
Our client’s vehicle stalled on the highway in the Atlanta metro area due to a mechanical issue. They activated their hazard signals and waited for help. A commercial 18-wheeler approached but failed to notice the stalled car and slammed into it from behind. The gas tanker overturned, spilling 9,000 gallons of fuel and igniting a fire that engulfed both vehicles. Both the truck driver and our client lost their lives. The trucking company argued that the crash was partly our client’s fault because their vehicle had stalled. We countered by showing that commercial drivers have a heightened duty of care, including knowing how to safely react when approaching a disabled vehicle, and that the truck driver failed to take those precautions. The case resolved confidentially with an $11,500,000 settlement for the victim’s family. The recovery provided critical financial support for the decedent’s two children, helping cover immediate expenses, education, and future needs through a structured settlement.
$2,650,000
Our firm represented the family of a deceased armed services veteran who was tragically killed in a tractor-trailer collision. The crash occurred because the commercial driver failed to properly use the required warning triangles to alert oncoming traffic. Early on, there was uncertainty about whether the veteran could have avoided the crash. Liability was heavily contested; the defense argued the crash might have been avoidable and not solely the truck driver’s fault. We encouraged a full investigation, analyzing speed, driving conditions, and compliance with federal trucking safety regulations. That work revealed the commercial driver had violated those regulations. By uncovering clear regulatory failures, we built a strong claim to hold the trucking company accountable. The case resolved for $2,650,000, bringing critical financial security to the veteran’s family. The recovery gave them resources to cover immediate expenses and helped create stability for the decades to come.
$1,876,000
In Chattanooga, our client, a professional truck driver, was killed in a crash caused by another truck driver who was driving far below the posted speed limit. The slow-moving truck gave no warning: no hazard lights or signals indicating it was traveling unusually slowly. Our client collided with the vehicle and, tragically, both drivers died in the crash. The defense argued that, despite the other driver’s unsafe speed, our client should have taken evasive action. Our team countered by demonstrating how the lack of hazard signals and failure to indicate the danger created an unreasonable and unexpected road hazard, directly leading to the collision. We secured a $1,876,000 settlement for our client’s family. A significant portion was structured to provide long-term stability for his surviving minor child, including funds set aside for education and a monthly allowance to help with ongoing financial needs.
$1,000,000
In Alabama, a father on his way to work was killed when a commercial driver failed to yield the right of way. The truck veered left directly into our client’s path, forcing his vehicle under the trailer. The impact caused a fire that claimed the lives of everyone inside. We represented the estate on behalf of the man’s only child, a minor left without their father. Our team investigated the accident thoroughly to confirm liability and secure maximum compensation. The case concluded with a $1,000,000 settlement, representing the full insurance limits available. These funds created crucial financial stability for the child, offering support for immediate needs and future opportunities in the absence of their father’s income.
$5,500,000
Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown in collaboration with another law firm represented the children of a pedestrian struck by a delivery vehicle while working.
$3,000,000
The Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown successfully represented a minor whose father was killed by a third-party commercial driver while working.
$3,000,000
Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown helped to facilitated the resolution of a catastrophic wreck in the State of Ohio after 2 years of litigation.
$2,100,000
The Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown successfully represented the family of a deceased victim against a neurologist who failed to conduct a CT Head examination thereby resulting in a catastrophic injury.
$1,750,000
The Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown successfully represented the family of an infant who was injured at birth by an OB/GYN who failed to conduct an emergency c-section.
$1,343,237
The Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown successfully represented a client who sustained several broken bones due to a car accident that occurred in Fulton County, Georgia.
$1,000,000
Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown successfully represented a driver who was injured when an emergency vehicle negligently impeded oncoming traffic resulting in a vehicle collision.
$550,000
The Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown successfully represented a worker who sustained a herniated disc injury while working on a commercial vehicle
$535,000
Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown successfully represented a driver who was reared ended by another vehicle and sustained a neck injury.
$500,000
Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown successfully represented an uber driver who was struck by another vehicle and sustained a knee injury.
$450,000
Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown successfully recovered on behalf of a client who sustained a concussion in an automobile collision.

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