One of the most common questions we get from clients is: “How much is my accident or injury case worth?”
It’s an important question—but one that doesn’t come with a quick answer. At our firm, we believe in giving honest, informed advice, which means we only provide a case value estimate after we have all the facts. Every injury case is unique, and assigning a dollar value without knowing the full picture would be doing you a disservice.
Unfortunately, some law firms might tell you your case is worth “millions” right away—even without knowing the details. We don’t operate that way because it’s not fair to you, and it doesn’t reflect the reality of how injury claims work in New York.
What Factors Determine the Value of a Personal Injury Case in New York?
There are several key factors that go into determining how much your claim might be worth:
1. The Severity of Your Injuries
The most significant factor is the extent of your physical injuries. For example, serious injuries like broken bones, spinal injuries, or traumatic brain injuries carry more weight than minor bumps or bruises. There is a general idea, based on historical data and jury verdicts in New York, of what certain types of injuries have been awarded in the past—but every case is still unique.
2. Liability (Who’s at Fault?)
Determining who is legally at fault for the accident is critical. If the other party is 100% responsible, that can increase the value of your claim. However, if you share some fault—say, in a New York car accident—the compensation may be reduced under New York’s comparative negligence laws. For instance, if a jury finds that you were 50% at fault, your award could be reduced by half.
3. Jurisdiction (Where the Case Is Filed)
Believe it or not, location matters. Injury cases in New York City (like in the Bronx, Brooklyn, or Manhattan) often result in higher jury verdicts compared to similar cases in upstate New York counties. While this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, it’s something we always take into account when evaluating a case.
4. Economic Losses
Lost income from missed work, medical expenses, future care needs, and other financial impacts of your injury are all part of the valuation. If your injury has also impacted your family—say a spouse can no longer work or a child needs additional care—those damages can also be considered.
Why One-Size-Fits-All Case Values Don’t Work
You can’t simply say, “I broke my arm, so my case is worth X dollars.” You have to look deeper:
- What are the long-term effects of the injury?
- Has it affected your ability to work?
- Has it impacted your family?
- What are the specific facts of the incident?
- Where did it happen?
These are just some of the pieces we evaluate to provide a 360-degree view of your case.
Get a Realistic, Personalized Case Evaluation
If you’ve been injured in an accident in New York and want to know what your case might be worth, we’re here to help. We’ll take the time to understand every aspect of your situation so we can give you an accurate and fair estimate—not just a number that sounds good.
Have questions about the value of your injury claim in New York? Reach out today for a free consultation with our legal team.