Injuries can take a toll on your body, emotions, and pocketbook. In fact, in many cases, the pain and the emotional trauma of an injury will over-value the costs in the medical bills. When you are the victim of another person's foolish, malicious, or negligent mistake, you deserve compensation for not only the costs if the wound, but the pain and suffering you have endured. According to many lawyers, these values are determined by a "multiplier method." This technique is often used to determine the amount of money that should be awarded to a personal injury claimant. Oftentimes, insurance adjusters will use implement this multiplier.

In order to figure out the amount of money you deserve in your settlement, you will need to look at all the repercussions of your injury. First, you will need to identify your medical issue, and prove the direct correlation of the accident and your damages. A doctor's testimony helps greatly, as well as any eyewitness accounts that can help to confirm the accident. Once you have finished this simple first step, you will want to calculate the medical bills you have amassed directly relating to your injuries. As well, if your injury has caused you to miss work for a significant amount of time, you will want to calculate your lost wages into the equation. Hard copies of medical bills can help to prove the exact amount of money you must pay.

Now, add the amount of money that you have lost in medical costs and lost wages. From here, the multiplier method will help to show how much money you deserve for the grievous consequences of your injury. Typically, the multiplier method involves multiplying the sum of lost wages and medical expenses by three. Let's look at an example: A young man is driving and hit by another vehicle. Because of this, he suffers a soft tissue injury, commonly known as whiplash. The man will need to pay $350.00 in medical bills, and has lost $650.00 in wages because he had to take a week off of work for recovery. In total, he lost $1,000 as a result of the accident. Using the multiplier method, this would mean that he deserves $3,000 worth of compensation for pain and suffering, as well as another $1,000 to cover his out of pocket expenses, bringing in a total of $4,000. Oftentimes other repair costs or continuing medical costs can also be factored into a lawsuit.

Personal injury claimants normally take this amount and double it to arrive at an initial demand. In our case, the claimant would set his initial demand at $8,000 as opposed to $4,000. Starting high will help you to settle with the other party at a reasonable price, and make sure that you get the money that you deserve. From then on, it takes a lot of quibbling and negotiating to reach a settlement. If you cannot arrive at agreeable terms, then you should take your case to court, where a jury and judge will determine the appropriate sum. Whenever dealing with a personal injury case, it is essential to hire a knowledgeable lawyer. The multiplier method is a good place to start with your case, but it may not be exactly accurate to your situation. Men and women who sustain injuries that cannot be corrected are entitled to more money than someone who will have a full recovery. Also, the circumstances of your injury could alter the amount of money you deserve. Talk with your lawyer before preparing your initial demand with this simple math. When negotiating a settlement, be patient. Your attorney will want to explore options and see how he or she can best satisfy your initial demand.