More Factors to Consider When Evaluating Your Personal Injury Case
Posted Thursday, January 9, 2014 by Chris Thayer
How much your personal injury case is worth depends on a number of factors, as your Seattle personal injury lawyer will tell you. Some, like liability and whether you had any comparative negligence, are extremely important and will be the first things your Seattle personal injury lawyer will ask about when deciding to take your case. However, there are some factors that are less obvious but which can still significantly affect the value of your case. Here are some of them:
Loss of Consortium
Loss of consortium, as your Seattle personal injury attorney will explain, refers to the damage done to your relationship with your significant other or your family. This may be something that has impacted you very strongly or not at all, depending on the specifics of your case. If your spouse’s life was significantly impacted by your accident, it may be worth it for your Seattle personal injury lawyer to claim loss of consortium in your case.
• Has your spouse had to take up extra household duties or family matters because of your accident?• Has your relationship with your spouse suffered? This can be a difficult question to talk about, but your Seattle personal injury lawyer will want to know how much your life has been affected.• Has your spouse had to become a caretaker for you?
These are questions that your Seattle personal injury attorney might ask you. If you answered yes to any of them, loss of consortium might be a factor in your case.
The Insurance Company
Your Seattle personal injury lawyer has dealt with enough insurance companies to know they are not all equal. Some are far more conservative than others, and some are far more likely to go to court rather than settle. If they have to spend $10,000 to defend a case in court, they will spend it rather than pay you and your Seattle personal injury lawyer the same amount in a settlement.
It is important to understand the types of carriers you and your Seattle personal injury attorney are working with. Some carriers consider it a cost of doing business to lose in court verdicts when they could have settled for less.
Don’t go up against the insurance company alone. Know who you are dealing with. Call Seattle personal injury lawyer Chris Thayer at (206) 340-2008.