What Are Some Signs of a Strong Personal Injury Case?

In 2021, there were 224,935 preventable deaths and 62 million injuries, which cost the US economy $1.225 billion. Not all injuries are someone else’s fault – some are caused by freak weather or being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but you may have a strong case for seeking compensation if your injuries were someone else’s fault. However, not all personal injury cases have the same likelihood of success.

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Here are some key signs that point to a potentially strong claim.

Evidence Supporting Liability

One of the most fundamental building blocks of a strong injury case is clear evidence that helps prove liability or fault on the part of the other party. Some examples include:

• Police reports or eyewitness statements attributing blame for a car accident to the other driver. 

• Store security footage showing a spill occurring due to employee negligence before you slipped and fell.

• Records demonstrating a company knew about a product defect but failed to warn consumers. The Dow Corning: Silicone Breast Implants class action lawsuit is a classic example of when a company failed to warn consumers and paid the price.

If you have documentation or testimony to substantiate where responsibility lies, it bolsters the merits of your injury lawsuit.

Well-Documented Losses and Damages

Attorney George Salinas, founding attorney at George Salinas Injury Lawyers recommends that in addition to liability, your lawyer must prove the extent of the harms and losses you suffered to seek full and fair compensation. Be sure to keep all receipts for medical treatments and other expenses incurred because of the incident. Track lost wages from any time you missed work while recovering from your injuries as well. The more evidence you have to put a number on your economic and non-economic damages, the better.

Ongoing, Serious Impacts to Your Life  

Claims are strongest when a victim faces major lifestyle disruptions rather than just minor bumps and bruises. Things like being unable to return to work, facing disabilities or chronic pain, requiring surgery and extended rehab, or losing your ability to enjoy favorite activities all demonstrate serious long-term consequences. Traumatic brain injuries are a good example of something that impacts around 1.7 million people each year. The more substantial your injuries and losses are, the more leverage your attorney has in fighting for maximum compensation.

Insurance Company Offers Settlement

You can take it as an optimistic sign if an insurer makes you a settlement offer early on. They likely have experienced claims adjusters who wouldn’t put money on the table unless they assessed your case as having merit and a significant chance of prevailing if it proceeds to trial or arbitration. While their initial offer amount may still be lower than what your claim is truly worth, the very fact that they extended an offer indicates they consider it valid.

Reputable Personal Injury Lawyer Willing to Take Your Case  

When an experienced personal injury lawyer agrees to take on a client with a contingency fee structure, meaning they only collect if they win compensation, it’s because they have confidence in the underlying merits of the case. 

Always speak to a personal injury lawyer before deciding whether to proceed with your lawsuit. They can advise you whether your case has legs.