Some injuries are severe and result in permanent disabilities or severe injuries, which can lead to high awards. While specific settlement figures are never guaranteed, we’ll explore some examples of the type of compensation a personal injury lawyer in Virginia Beach might be able to negotiate for their client.
Car Accidents Examples
In Virginia, average car accident settlements range from $7,200 for a minor injury (e.g., mild back sprain) to $325,300 for a severe injury (e.g., permanent brain injury). If you sustain a neck or back injury, settlements range from $7,200 for a minor injury and $33,00 for a moderate injury to $187,000 for a severe injury. For head injuries, average settlements are $1,000 for a minor injury, $40,000 for a moderate injury, and $609,000 for a severe injury.
Let’s take a closer look at settlements for some injuries that result from a car accident:
Chest Injuries
Severe chest injuries injuries can lead to chronic pain, breathing difficulties, and lung damage. While chest injury settlements can be substantial, they tend to be lower than other types of injuries.
In Richmond, a woman suffered severe chest and shoulder injuries that required surgery from a side-impact accident. The defendant admitted to causing the accident, and the jury awarded her $185,000 in damages.
Spine and Neck Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can be devastating, and cause paralysis, sensory loss, severe pain, numbness, strength loss, and other complications. These injuries can have a life-altering impact, leading to work-related and financial challenges. The average settlement for this type of injury is around $1 million, but they can reach up to $7 million depending on the severity of the injuries.
Not all spinal injuries result in large awards. In Fairfax, a man claimed soft tissue neck and back issues after being rear-ended during a rush-hour collision. He did not complain of being injured at the time of the accident and also had a history of accidents and claims of neck and back injuries. He was awarded $3,000.
Head Injuries Can be Devastating
Head and brain injuries are among the most serious personal injuries and can result in permanent brain damage that impacts a person’s ability to perform routine daily activities.
In one incident, a gas station was struck by a derailed Norfolk Southern train. The gas station manager sustained severe, permanent brain damage and received a $60 million verdict.
Medical Malpractice
A thirty-six-year-old woman sought medical care for chronic pelvic pain and stage two endometriosis. During her hysterectomy, her gynecologist did not realize he’d entered her bladder and damaged her bladder and nearby organs. He ignored her post-op high temperature and vomiting.
She drove herself to the emergency room, where they discovered that urine had leaked into her abdomen and she was in acute renal failure. She suffered complications from subsequent surgeries to repair the damage, and was awarded $1.5 million.
Talk to a Lawyer if You Are Hurt
Personal injuries can have devastating financial and emotional consequences. There are many types of injuries, some of which can lead to substantial awards due to the impact they have on the victim’s life. In addition, it’s a good idea to learn if personal injury settlements are taxable.
In Virginia, minor and moderate settlements are often calculated by adding medical bills, out-of-pocket expenses, and lost wages together, plus one to three times that amount (depending on the severity of the injuries) for pain and suffering. There are issues that can impact payout amounts, though, such as shared fault, auto policy limits, lack of insurance, commercial business or government involvement, multiple claimants, punitive damages, and other details specific to the case.
Serious injuries are an entirely different matter. If you are involved in one, you need to talk to an experienced attorney from Coastal Virginia Law. We can evaluate your case and seek damages if you’ve been injured in an accident or workplace incident that was not your fault!