How much is my personal injury case worth?

A: Obviously, this is one of the toughest questions for a plaintiff's attorney to answer. A case's value can be effected by dozens of factors, but assuming that the liability issue is straightforward, there are 5 that are always present:

1) Past Medical Bills
2) Future Medical Bills
3) Past Lost Wage
4) Loss of Earning Capacity in the future
5) Pain and Suffering

There is no crystal ball or math formula for determining a case's value.  It ultimately comes down to what a jury would decide, and in Florida we use an itemized verdict form, so the jury would literally fill in the blanks for the 5 factors above and total them up.  Value is really based on evidence such as whether there are discrepancies in the testimony, medical records, or history that may detract from the integrity of the injured party's case.  It is also frankly based on whether the jury likes the plaintiff or not.  However, based on my 26 years of experience with past cases in St. Petersburg, Tampa and Bradenton, I can estimate the value of the case once I have gathered all medical records, evidence and statements and have a clear picture of how the accident effected the client's physical and mental condition.