California Personal Injury Settlement Amounts Examples

Your health and safety have incredible value. This is why so many people go to great lengths to protect themselves and their families from injury, illness, and distress. Unfortunately, your own safety and security are not always under your control. Other people’s decisions can easily have an impact on your health.

The law recognizes that this is an unfair fact of life and allows victims to use personal injury law to their advantage. These civil cases give victims the opportunity to get financial support for the pain and suffering that they have endured at the hands of another person.

The settlements for personal injury cases vary significantly. The more serious your injury is, the more you can expect to receive in a settlement. However, it is important to understand some standards and settlement amounts that you can expect to receive if you move forward with a personal injury claim.

California Personal Injury Settlement Calculations

Each settlement will vary depending on the incident’s unique circumstances and severity. Personal injury settlements usually account for:

• Medical bills associated with the accident and injury
• Compensation for time spent out of work to heal
• Vocational retraining, if the victim cannot return to their previous job
• Pain and suffering, in severe circumstances

Your attorney can help you calculate a settlement amount based on your unique situation and the aftermath of your injury.

Car Accidents

Car accidents are the most common type of personal injury claim because it is easy to get into a collision, and they are often the fault of one individual’s negligence. The injuries that occur in car accidents vary widely, as a small fender bender will cause less damage than a multiple-car pileup. The amount you can expect to receive will depend upon the severity of the accident and the circumstances that caused the collision.

The average settlement for car accident claims is approximately $21,000. However, it is entirely possible to receive more or less than this amount if your situation warrants it.

Slip and Fall Injuries

Slip and fall injuries are a type of premises liability in which a building owner or manager failed to keep the floors clean and dry and did not alert customers of the hazard. If you slip and fall because of this, you have the right to create a personal injury claim against the business. The average settlement for a slip and fall case is between $15,000 and $50,000. Although this is a wide range, it reflects the different injuries that can occur in a slip and fall case.

Wrongful Death

Unfortunately, some victims of personal injury events do not survive their injuries. In these cases, the family of the deceased is permitted to file a wrongful death claim. These cases can earn upwards of $1 million, depending on the circumstances of the death.

Personal Injury Claim Outcomes

Your personal injury case’s success depends upon the experience of your personal injury attorney, the evidence available in your case, and your ability to show that negligence caused your accident. According to a Forbes report, only about 5% of personal injury cases make it to trial. The other 95% can be settled outside of court. Auto accident cases have the highest likelihood of success for their plaintiffs, with a 61% success rate. Plaintiffs only win about 19% of medical malpractice cases. The average success rate for plaintiffs across all personal injury claims is approximately 50%.

FAQs

Q: What Is the Average Personal Injury Settlement in California?

A: Approximately $21,000. The average range is between $14,321 and $28,215. Your unique circumstances will determine how much you can expect to earn from a personal injury case. If your injuries were serious, or if the person responsible acted with particular negligence, you are more likely to be awarded a high settlement. If your injuries were minor, or if fault cannot be determined, you will receive a smaller settlement, if you get one at all.

Q: How Much Can I Get for Pain and Suffering in California?

A: In California, there is no upper limit to how much pain and suffering compensation you can receive unless you are fighting a medical malpractice case. In these cases, pain and suffering compensation is capped at $250,000. It is important to note that it is rare to receive pain and suffering compensation unless the individual responsible for your injuries acted particularly negligently or maliciously, or the situation was very gruesome. Otherwise, the court does not award pain and suffering compensation.

Q: How Do You Calculate a Settlement Amount?

A: Your settlement amount will consist of:

• The cost of your medical bills associated with your injury
• The cost of ongoing medical care, if necessary
• Compensation for any time you had to spend away from work to heal, go to doctor’s appointments, etc.
• Compensation for pain and suffering if the situation was particularly gruesome or if the responsible party acted particularly negligently or maliciously.

Your attorney can give you a more accurate estimate of how much to expect.

Q: How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in California?

A: You have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury claim in California. However, it is best to file your claim immediately, despite the statute of limitations. The sooner you file your claim, the more evidence you will have. If you wait, key evidence may be lost. Additionally, if you wait, the defense will claim that you sustained your injuries elsewhere and that they cannot be held responsible.

Contact Shaffer Law

When you look for personal injury attorneys in the Los Angeles area, it is important that you find a law firm with experience and confidence in your case. Our team has been fighting personal injury claims on behalf of our clients for many years. During this time, we have achieved a strong history of success and have countless client testimonials to prove our customer satisfaction. When you work with us, you can feel confident about your personal injury claim.

For more information about our firm, contact Shaffer Law .

About The Author

Douglas D. Shaffer

Douglas D. Shaffer is a seasoned attorney based in California, specializing in personal injury and complex litigation. With an impressive career marked by significant case wins and a strong dedication to his clients, his professional background and expertise are noteworthy. Education: Graduated magna cum laude from Pepperdine Law School; holds a Bachelor of Science from Ohio State University. Experience: Over three decades of legal practice, focusing on catastrophic injury cases. Recognition: Repeatedly recognized as a Super Lawyer; named a top lawyer by US News and World Reports. Community Involvement: Actively contributes to community services and coaches youth sports. Bar Admissions: Admitted to the State Bar of California, U.S. District Court Northern District of California, and U.S. District Court Central District of California since 1984.

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