If you were injured in a Wisconsin accident that someone else caused, you’re probably wondering how much you can get through a personal injury claim. You might even have searched the internet for how much an “average personal injury settlement in Wisconsin” might be.
While every person injured by someone else wants to know how much their case is worth, searching for an average payout isn’t the way to find out. Every case is unique, and no other case has the same details and facts that your case does. Comparing your case to others will give you false information about your potential settlement.
If someone else caused a Wisconsin accident that harmed you, you need the help of a Wisconsin personal injury law firm like LawtonCates. When you work with us, we can pursue the maximum value for your claim because we know the variables that drive Wisconsin settlements.
Don’t wait. Call our office today for your free, no-obligation, fully confidential consultation.
Why “Average” Settlement Numbers Can Be Misleading
Wisconsin personal injury settlement amounts vary based on the particulars of each case. Averages that appear online are essentially useless information because a few multi-million-dollar verdicts thrown into the mix can skew those averages. Even if most of the settlements included in the calculation are in the low five-figures, a handful of extravagant settlements will make it appear that most of the settlements in the survey paid more than they did.
Typical Settlement Ranges in Wisconsin
Settlement ranges differ based on the type of injury. A case involving whiplash or a fractured bone will settle for considerably less than a spinal cord injury that results in paraplegia or a traumatic brain injury that leaves the injured person with permanent cognitive disabilities.
When you’ve been injured in an accident caused by someone else, you’re entitled to seek compensation for your injuries and other accident-related costs. You don’t need an average settlement, though: you need full and fair compensation.
Factors That Affect Settlement Value
Your Wisconsin injury claim value is affected by a variety of factors, including the following:
- Your medical expenses, including emergency care, surgery, prescriptions, and ongoing treatment
- Your lost wages and the injury’s impact on your future earning capacity
- The severity and permanence of your injury
- Your pain and suffering
- Whether liability is clear, and whether you share any fault for the accident
- The available insurance policy limits
Understanding Wisconsin’s Comparative Negligence Rule
Your personal injury payout in Wisconsin may be affected by the state’s comparative negligence rule. If the court finds that you were more than 50 percent at fault for the accident, you will be barred from obtaining any compensation for your injuries. However, if you were less than 51 percent to blame, you can still get money. Because of the comparative negligence rule, any compensation you get will be reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault.
Statute of Limitations in Wisconsin
Another Wisconsin law that can affect your compensation is the statute of limitations. A statute of limitations is a law that sets a time limit for filing a lawsuit against the person who harmed you. In Wisconsin, you have three years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party.
You must act quickly to meet this deadline. Although three years seems like a substantial period of time, evidence can disappear and witness memories can fade even in such a short period. You’ll need both of those to build the strongest possible case, and collecting them soon after the accident is the best strategy.
Another reason to file your lawsuit early on is that if you file after the deadline, the court can dismiss your case without hearing it. Regardless of whether you have a strong case, missing the filing deadline can terminate your right to present your case in court. If your case is dismissed, you lose your best bargaining tool against the insurance company, too. Without the threat of going to court, the insurer is unlikely to increase the last settlement offer they made.
Steps to Maximize Your Personal Injury Settlement
You can protect your health and help to maximize your settlement by taking the following steps after the accident:
- Call emergency services.
- Get immediate medical care.
- If you’re able, document the accident scene by taking photos or video of the accident location, any vehicles involved, your injuries, and the surrounding environment.
- Obey your doctor’s orders and go to all scheduled appointments.
- Avoid discussing the case on social media.
- Contact an experienced Wisconsin personal injury lawyer from LawtonCates right away.
How LawtonCates Can Help
When you hire LawtonCates to handle your case, we’ll put our trial-tested approach to personal injury cases to work for you. We’ve discovered that being willing to go to trial often forces insurance companies to offer higher settlements. As a result, our lawyers are always ready to go to trial. We’ve recovered millions of dollars in settlements and awards for our clients so far, including a $2.3 million wrongful death settlement.
One of our satisfied clients wrote:
“Best attorney in Wisconsin, when everyone had turned their back on me telling me that my case was impossible he reached out to me and listened carefully to every detail of my case. He found solutions where no one else saw any. He was compassionate and honest. He kept in touch with me for updates and to check up on my health status throughout the whole process. His professionalism and humanity goes above and beyond. He made the impossible, very possible thank you so much for everything LAWTON & CATES attorney :Dixon R Gahnz” ‒ Alexander Durini
We take an aggressive approach when dealing with insurance companies because we know they’ll try anything to reduce or eliminate the amounts they have to pay injured people. We know how to support our cases with strong medical evidence, and we have the resources to obtain expert opinions that can further strengthen our clients’ cases.
Contact a Wisconsin Personal Injury Lawyer Today
At LawtonCates, we can evaluate the true value of your claim. Our personal injury lawyers are committed to developing a personalized strategy for each client, and you can reach our firm 24/7. Call our office today for a free, no-risk consultation to discuss the details of the accident and learn the potential value of your case.