How to estimate bodily injury settlements

• Author: David Frangiamore
• Pages: 529-552

ESTIMATE BODILY

INJURY SETTLEMENTS

12-1

CHAPTER 12

HOW TO ESTIMATE BODILY

INJURY SETTLEMENTS

§1200 IN GENERAL

§1201 How Settlement Demands and Offers Have Changed Recently

§1202 What Is the Scope of Bodily Injury Settlements?

§1203 What Is the Basis of Bodily Injury Settlements?

§1203.1 Disputed Liability or Damages

§1203.2 Undisputed Liability or Damage

§1204 First-party vs. Third-party Claims

§1210 CATEGORIES OF BODILY INJURY DAMAGES

§1210.1 Current Damages

§1210.2 Future Damages

§1210.3 Rehabilitation Damages

§1210.4 Punitive Damages

§1210.5 Loss of Enjoyment of Life Damages

§1210.6 Loss of Inheritance

§1210.7 Loss of Consortium

§1210.8 California: Howell Reduction in Recoverable Medical Expenses

§1220 THIRTEEN STEPS IN EVALUATING A BODILY INJURY CLAIM

§1220.1 Step One: Legal Liability of the Defendant

§1220.2 Step Two: Credibility and Quality of the Plaintiff

§1220.3 Step Three: Credibility of Plaintiff’s Doctor

§1220.4 Step Four: Pre-Existing Injuries

§1220.4.1 No Accounting

§1220.4.2 Independent Accounting

§1220.4.3 Double Conditional Accounting

§1220.4.4 Single Conditional Accounting

§1220.5 Step Five: Current Medical Expenses

§1220.6 Step Six: Current General Damages

§1220.6.1 Low Range Example

§1220.6.2 Mid Range Example

§1220.6.3 High Range Example

§1220.7 Step Seven: Current Lost Wages or Income

§1220.8 Step Eight: Future Medical Expenses—Projected

§1220.9 Step Nine: Future General Damages

§1220.9.1 Low Range Example

ESTIMATE BODILY

INJURY SETTLEMENTS

How Insurance Companies Settle Cases 12-2

§1220.9.2 Mid Range Example

§1220.9.3 High Range Example

§1220.9.4 Special Note: Lifetime General Damages

§1220.10 Step Ten: Future Lost Wages or Income—Projected

§1220.11 Step Eleven: The Vocational/Professional Rehabilitation Expenses

§1220.12 Step Twelve: Punitive Damages

§1220.13 Step Thirteen: Loss of Enjoyment of Life Damages

§1230 PHYSICAL CAPACITIES EVALUATION

§1231 Some Plaintiffs May Be Barred From Recovery for Pain and Suffering

KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER