How Much Can I Expect to Make from My Personal Injury Case in Florida?
If you have suffered an injury in Florida due to someone else’s negligence, you may be wondering how much compensation you can receive. There were 28,342 personal injury cases filed in Florida between March 2022 and March 2023; significantly more than any other state. Personal injury cases can result in damages for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. The amount of compensation you are awarded will depend on the details and circumstances of your case.
Median Compensation in Personal Injury Cases
The average payout in a personal injury lawsuit is around $31,000. Product liability cases tend to receive the highest median payouts, with cases involving products that are flawed awarded a median payout of $748,000. Medical malpractice cases also get higher amounts of compensation, on average $679,000.
However, these figures depend on the exact circumstances of the case and the severity of the injuries, among other things.
Here is an overview of key factors that influence settlement and award amounts in Florida personal injury claims.
Types of Damages
There are two main categories of damages – economic and non-economic. Economic damages cover quantifiable monetary losses like medical bills, lost wages if you missed work, property damage, etc. Non-economic damages relate to harder-to-quantify losses like pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement or disability, etc. The more evidence you have to back up both types, the higher your potential award.
Fault and Liability Percentages
Florida uses comparative negligence rules. If you were partially at fault for the accident, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. The ability of your personal injury law firm attorney to prove the other party was predominantly responsible impacts your claim’s value. If multiple parties are liable, fault percentages allocate how much each pays.
Insurance Coverage
The at-fault party’s insurance provider typically pays the claim. The available policy limits cap the potential award. Many Florida drivers carry minimum bodily insurance coverage of $10,000 per person and $20,000 per accident. This coverage may not go very far if injuries are severe. Checking for additional insurance assets or personal assets that could cover damages is important.
Injury Type and Severity
According to Sagi Shaked a Miami personal injury lawyer at Shaked Law Firm, P.A., more serious injuries often result in higher settlements and awards. Severe injuries leading to permanent disabilities, impaired quality of life, loss of limbs, brain damage, and wrongful death can bring compensation into the million-dollar range if negligence caused extensive losses and facts support the damages. Minor soft tissue injuries like sprains may only bring several thousand in compensation.
Loss of Income and Earning Capacity
If you missed work and lost wages while recovering, tallying those hours helps support an economic damages claim. Additionally, if the injury impacts your long-term ability to earn the same income, you can claim those future lost wages. Backing up both past and estimated future income loss potential significantly boosts case value.
Location
Verdicts and settlement averages vary by location. Urban areas like Miami tend to award higher damages based on higher living costs and wages. Rural small towns often award relatively lower amounts.
Reputable personal injury attorneys know average case values in your jurisdiction for specific injury types. An experienced Florida personal injury lawyer can examine the details of what happened along with your losses and long-term prognosis to provide a case valuation estimate and guide negotiations and litigation. While every case has unique aspects, understanding these factors can help you gauge a reasonable settlement range.