Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers | April 22, 2025 | Personal Injury
If you’ve been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you might wonder about the average personal injury settlement amount. It is an understandable question to ask; after all, an injury can cause devastating financial losses for the victim and their family.
However, a more appropriate question for our personal injury lawyers in Stuart is, “How much is my personal injury settlement worth?” The value of a personal injury case is based on the unique factors involved in the case.
For example, two people could suffer the same type of injury in two different kinds of accidents. However, one person’s claim may be worth much more than the other’s because of the facts and circumstances involved in that case.
Damages Available for a Personal Injury Settlement in Stuart, FL
Damages are paid to an accident victim to compensate them for their monetary losses, emotional suffering, and physical injuries. A personal injury settlement may include both economic and non-economic damages.
Examples of the damages that could be included in your personal injury settlement are:
- The cost of your medical care and treatment
- Future medical bills and expenses
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Diminished earning capacity
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Rehabilitative therapies and treatment
- Lost wages and employment benefits
- Reduced quality of life
In addition to compensatory damages, a victim may receive punitive damages. These damages are usually not available unless you file a personal injury lawsuit. However, your attorney may use the likelihood of punitive damages as a negotiating tactic to increase the average personal injury settlement amount.
A jury awards punitive damages to punish a party for intentional misconduct or gross negligence. They are awarded in a small number of personal injury lawsuits. Even if you file a lawsuit, your case could be settled before it goes to trial.
What Factors Affect the Average Personal Injury Settlement Amount in Florida?
Many factors impact the average personal injury settlement amount. Some factors apply in most cases. However, your case may involve unique factors that are not listed.
Examples of factors that could impact how much you receive for a personal injury settlement include:
- The cost of your medical treatment and care
- The types of injuries you sustained
- The medical treatments required for your injuries
- The duration of your recovery period
- Whether your injuries resulted in lifelong disabilities and impairments
- The availability of insurance coverage for your claim
- The parties involved in the claim
- Testimony from expert witnesses
- Whether you delayed medical care and/or failed to follow your doctor’s treatment plan
- The strength of the evidence proving that the other party is at fault
- Whether you could be partially to blame for causing your injuries (i.e., contributory fault
You can strengthen your case by seeking prompt medical treatment for injuries. Documenting your financial losses and expenses can also increase the value of your claim. Keeping a pain and suffering journal with details of your recovery is also helpful.
How Does Hiring a Stuart Personal Injury Lawyer Help You Maximize the Average Personal Injury Settlement Amount for Your Case?
Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney can increase the amount you receive for your injury claim. Insurance companies recognize an attorney’s experience and track record. They are less likely to use bad faith insurance practices and lowball tactics when an attorney is involved in your case.
Additionally, hiring an experienced lawyer evens the playing field. The insurance company has a team of professionals protecting it from liability. When you hire an attorney, you have someone working to protect your best interests by:
Gathering Evidence To Build a Strong Claim
Injured parties must prove the legal elements to establish causation, fault, and damages to create liability. Otherwise, they cannot hold another party legally responsible for their damages. Experienced lawyers understand how to investigate a claim to gather evidence. They also have the resources to mount an independent investigation into the circumstances that caused your injuries.
Correctly Valuing Damages
An insurance adjuster may make a quick settlement offer. The offer is likely worth far less than your personal injury claim. Quick offers are designed to get you to sign a settlement agreement and waiver of rights before you realize the extent of your injuries and damages.
An attorney calculates the correct value of your damages. They document your damages to prove how much your case is worth. Do not accept a settlement offer without seeing an attorney for a free consultation.
Defending You Against Contributory Fault Allegations
Florida’s modified comparative negligence law bars accident victims from receiving damages if they are more than 50% to blame for causing their injuries. If they are less than 51% to blame, their damages are reduced by their percentage of fault.
The insurance adjuster may trick you into saying something implying you could be at fault. Allowing an attorney to handle the communications with the insurance company is best. Remember, you are not obligated to provide a recorded statement unless you are under a court order or subpoena.
Monitoring the Statute of Limitations
Florida’s statute of limitations sets deadlines for you to file personal injury lawsuits. Missing the deadline means giving up your right to file a lawsuit against the people who caused your injuries.
An attorney calculates the correct deadline based on the factors of your case. They monitor the deadline to ensure the case is settled or a lawsuit is filed before time runs out.
Contact Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers For Help Today
Speak with an experienced attorney to learn about how much you could receive for a personal injury settlement. The best way to know how much your case is worth is to seek a free case review with an experienced injury lawyer. Do not trust the insurance company, inexperienced attorneys, or information you find online to tell you the average personal injury settlement amount.
For more information, please contact the Stuart, Port St. Lucie, or Palm Beach Gardens personal injury law firm of Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.
We proudly serve Martin County, St. Lucie County, Palm Beach County, and its surrounding areas in Florida:
Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Stuart
73 SW Flagler Ave
Stuart, FL 34994
(772) 444-7000
Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Port St. Lucie
1100 SW St. Lucie West Blvd. Ste 202
Port St Lucie, FL 34986
(772) 247-3374
Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Palm Beach Gardens
300 Ave of the Champions Ste 170
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
(561) 944-4000