If a personal injury claim is estimated to be worth a specific amount of money................................

Question

is that amount usually in addition to the auctual expenses or does it include them? Also, if the claim is being paid by one's own insurance company (uninsured motorist coverage), is it necessary to seek an attorney's advice before settling?

A couple of websites I've seen say to enter the amount of medical expenses, lost wages, automobile damage, etc., but doesn't say if the "worth" of the claim includes all of these expenses or is in addition to them.

Answer 1

It depends upon who's doing the estimating. One should be very skeptical of those (particularly on websites) who tell you what a claim is "worth." Unless the person making the statement is an experienced attorney who practices in the specific area where your claim arises, the advice is not likely to be worth much.

And, while is it not "necessary" - unless you like not getting what your claim is worth, yes, you should consult with an attorney.

Answer 2

Three parts -- actual out-of-pocket expenses, including lost work -- estimated value of non-tangible harms (pain and suffering) -- and possibly punitive damages.

Each is calculated separately, though punitive damages are limited based on the value of the other two sets.