Frequently Asked Questions
After an accident or loss, it is normal to have questions. At Gruel Mills, we believe the more information you have, the better equipped you will be to move forward with your case. Below are some of the most common questions our attorneys receive from personal injury clients:
How much is my personal injury case worth?
Money is always a concern to the people we talk to after an accident, and for good reason. A sudden accident can affect your livelihood and cause apprehension about your future. As your attorney, our goal is to help you get the most out of your case, so you can afford medical care and maintain a good quality of life despite your injuries.
Many variables can affect the value of a personal injury case, and it is impossible to provide an exact estimate for your specific case. However, we can look at the costs commonly associated with cases like yours.
Common costs you may be able to recover in a personal injury case include:
- Medical bills, including doctor visits, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and other necessary costs.
- Lost wages, covering any time missed from work as a direct result of the accident and potentially including future loss of earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering to compensate you for the physical and emotional toll of the accident, including physical pain, mental distress, depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
- Loss of enjoyment to compensate you when you can no longer participate in the tasks or activities that made you happy before your accident.
- Loss of consortium, which means your injuries interfere with, diminish, or result in the loss of a familial or romantic relationship.
Will my case go to trial?
The majority of personal injury cases settle outside of court or before trial. Going to court is expensive, and juries are unpredictable. In most cases, both you and the insurance company are better off coming to a mutual agreement.
Your attorney will advise you whether the insurance company’s offer is appropriate and what your case looks like moving forward. However, you ultimately decide whether you want to accept a settlement or proceed to trial.
How long will my personal injury case take?
After an accident, watching the bills add up and missing time from work can cause stress. So it makes sense to question how long a personal injury case will take. When you work with an attorney, the goal is always to settle your case as quickly as possible. At the same time, we want you to get what you deserve. Typically, a case that settles out of court will take far less time than one that requires litigation.
Other factors that can affect the timeline of your case include:
- The willingness of both parties to settle
- The treatment of your injuries and how long it will take to know your future prognosis
- The number of parties involved
- The complexity of your case
- Whether there is a dispute about who is liable for your injuries