Basic Personal Injury Settlement Breakdown: How Much Goes in My Pocket?

Ryan Zavodnick | March 10, 2022 | Personal Injury

If you’ve been injured due to the fault of another in Philadelphia, PA, you may be wondering how much money you will receive for a personal injury settlement.

Many factors determine how much money you will recover if you win your case. Since most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, the attorney’s fees will be deducted from your settlement. They only collect a fee if they win your case. How much a personal injury case is worth, and how much ultimately goes in your pocket, is different for each case.

What Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?

Before you can even think about how much goes in your pocket in a personal injury case, you need to know how much your case is worth. The truth is, each case is unique. Personal injury claims aim to provide compensation for both economic and non-economic losses (often referred to as pain and suffering).

The value of these losses will be specific to you.

However, there are some common factors that affect how much your case could be worth, such as:

The severity of your injuries
The value of your past and future lost wages
Whether you are expected to make a full recovery
The value of any property damage
Whether you were partially at fault for the accident

An experienced personal injury lawyer will fight to help you recover the maximum compensation for all of your damages.

What Damages Are Available in a Personal Injury Case?

Most people injured in accidents can seek compensatory damages that cover financial losses as well as non-economic damages.

That means you can usually seek compensation for:

Doctor visits
Surgery
Hospital stays
Medication
Medical devices
Lab tests
In-home nursing care
Other out-of-pocket expenses
Anxiety and depression
Lost wages
Disability
And more

The severity of your injuries is a key factor in determining your case value. Your attorney will carefully calculate your losses to be sure that future expenses are covered in your claim for damages.

Can I Still Recover Compensation if I Was At Fault for the Accident?

In Pennsylvania, you can be compensated for an injury even if you were partly at fault for it. Pennsylvania uses a modified comparative negligence standard to determine fault. According to the law, you can recover compensation if you were less than 51% responsible for your injury. Your financial award will be reduced by the portion of fault attributed to you.

If you’re 51% or more at fault, you’ll receive no compensation at all.

If you’re being blamed for the accident that caused your injuries, that’s when it’s even more important to have the right law firm in your corner. If the at-fault party is successful in shifting enough blame to you, you won’t get any of the compensation you’re otherwise entitled to. Even if you are partially at fault, an experienced personal injury lawyer can fight back against unfair blame — to preserve as much of your compensation as possible.

What Are Some of the Most Common Personal Injury Cases?

A personal injury case arises when someone is injured due to the careless actions of another person. When that happens, the person who caused harm can be held financially responsible for the injured victim’s injuries.

Some of the most common personal injury cases arise from:

Most accidents are the result of negligence. The circumstances can vary widely, but in general, any time you were hurt because of someone else’s carelessness, you could potentially have a personal injury case.

What Happens After I Win My Personal Injury Case?

Once your case has been settled, you’ll need to subtract certain costs from your accident settlement amount.

These costs include:

Attorney’s fees: When you hire a personal injury lawyer, you agree on a percentage that the attorney would be paid if your case won. This is usually between 33-40%. Attorney’s fees are usually the first cost subtracted from your settlement award. However, some attorneys first deduct court fees and other administrative costs. Be sure to read your fee agreement to understand how fees will be deducted.
Procedural costs: You will be responsible for certain costs in your case, such as charges for ordering medical records, copies, and postage. These fees will be taken out of your settlement amount.
Expert witnesses and court fees: Many personal injury cases require the use of experts, such as accident reconstructionists, medical professionals, or toxicologists. Additionally, there are court filing fees that need to be paid. Usually, your lawyer will carry these costs so that you don’t have to pay anything during your case. They are deducted at the end once your case is settled.
Medical expenses: Medical providers and health insurance companies may place holds on your settlement to pay for expenses you owe for the treatment you received. Paying these bills will also come out of your accident settlement.

A personal injury lawyer may be able to negotiate to reduce your bills and ensure you take home the most amount of money possible.

Many personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, meaning they only get paid if your personal injury case is successful.

Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Philadelphia Today To Get Help With Your Case

To learn more and get the help you deserve, call Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers at (215) 875-7030 or contact us online.
You can also visit our law firm at 123 S Broad St #1220, Philadelphia, PA 19109.