How Much Is My Wisconsin Car Accident Case Worth?

 Posted on March 23, 2021 in Personal Injury

Wisconsin law allows individuals who were injured by another party’s negligent or criminal actions to seek compensation for their “damages” or losses. The amount of compensation that a personal injury claim may recover for a car accident victim varies from case to case. Several factors can affect the amount of money that an injured plaintiff receives, including the severity of the injuries, the victim’s prognosis, and more.

Types of Recoverable Damages for Which You May Be Entitled Compensation  

There are several types of damages available to car accident victims under Wisconsin personal injury law. Compensatory damages typically include the financial and non-financial losses experienced by the victim. Economic damages typically include:

• Past and future lost income from missed work

• Lost earning potential

• Medical expenses such as hospital bills, physical therapy costs, medication, and doctor’s appointments

• Damages to the victim’s vehicle and other personal property

Non-economic damages include the victim’s pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. Punitive damages are another category of damages that are less frequently awarded in a car accident case. Unlike damages intended to compensate the victim, punitive damages are intended to punish the party who acted negligently or unlawfully. Punitive damages are reserved for cases involving gross negligence or reckless indifference to the consequences.  

Factors That Influence a Car Accident Injury Payout

The amount of compensation that you may recover for car accident injuries depends on many factors. Typically, the worse a car accident victim’s injuries, the more compensation he or she may receive for damages like medical bills and pain and suffering. If a victim’s injuries cause permanent disability, the victim may be entitled to a considerable amount of compensation for the future financial and personal losses stemming from the disability.

The victim’s actions during the car crash can also affect his or her potential payout. In Wisconsin, personal injury cases are subject to a legal doctrine called “comparative negligence.” The injured person’s own share of fault for the accident reduces his or her payout proportionally. For example, if the victim was speeding at the time of the accident, this may have exacerbated the damages caused by the crash. If the victim’s share of fault for the accident is determined to be 30 percent, he or she may be awarded 70 percent of the total damages. If a personal injury plaintiff is 51 percent or more at fault, he or she may not be entitled to any compensation.

Contact an Ozaukee County Car Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one were injured in a vehicle collision, you may be able to receive compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. To learn more, contact a diligent Waukesha County personal injury attorney at Bucher Law Group, LLC. Call our office today at 262-303-4916 to schedule a free consultation.

Source:

https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/1997/statutes/statutes/895/045