If you've been in a motorcyle or car accident, what are your injuries worth?

Most people who are involved in a car accident, find it difficult to understand how a money value is placed upon a particular injury.

There is no universally accepted formula, but the degree of severity of the injuries suffered is directly proportional to the potential monetary recovery.

In plain terms, the more seriously you are injured, the more money you will recover to compensate you for that injury.

However, neither a jury nor an insurance company will take a patient's word, alone, when it comes to compensation for injuries. Therefore, this becomes a matter of medical and legal proof, with your Phoenix car accident lawyer making a claim to the adverse party's insurance provider for compensation.

Insurance adjusters and jurors consider the following as evidence of the severity of the injury:

1) Degree of collision impact, indicated by damage to automobiles;
2) Ambulance transport and hospital emergency care;
3) The nature and extent of hospital and medical care;
4) Whether the injuries are subjective or objective (capable of proof by independent means, such as x-rays, MRIs, CAT Scans, nerve conduction studies, etc.,--other than the patient's description or complaints of pain, such as headaches, neck and back aches, migraines, or anything else that cannot be proven by objective, medical testing);
5) Absence of pre-existing conditions, which cannot be reasonably isolated from present injuries;
6) The continuity of medical/chiropractic treatment (no unreasonable delays or gaps in treatment);
7) Appropriate referral from medical doctor to physical therapist or other medical provider;
8) Appropriate periodic monitoring by medical doctor of physical therapy or other treatment;
9) Referral by a medical doctor, such as a family physician, to a specialist such as an orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon (The more credentials the doctor has, the more credibility or weight he will carry with the insurance company or jury.);
10) Necessary treatment and reasonable amount of medical bills (in keeping with above criteria);
11) Clear and convincing proof of causation (An accident victim has the legal burden of proving the extent of his injuries and that it was the accident that caused his or her injuries and not another cause, such as an ongoing medical condition that occurred before the accident.);
12) Loss of earnings (which must be supported by a doctor releasing you from work or restricting your work activities, in writing,) and;
13) Pain and suffering (consistent with and proportional to the nature of injuries.)

Have you or a loved one been hurt or killed in an motorcycle or other auto accident? A good Phoenix motorcycle accident lawyer can help.