Minnesota is full of bike lanes and crosswalks, but unfortunately these aren’t always navigated perfectly by pedestrians or drivers. If you’ve been injured while in a bike lane or crosswalk, you’re entitled to compensation from the at fault party, but just how much is your injury worth? Although there’s no handy chart to determine exactly how much compensation you may be eligible for, there are some factors that help give you a better idea of what your case might be worth. We explore those factors below.
Factors Determining Compensation
There are a number of different factors that determine your compensation amount, and here’s a closer look at the important ones.
1. The Extent of Your Injuries – If you get struck by a vehicle and break a couple fingers, your compensation for medical expenses will be limited. However, if you fracture a vertebrae in your neck and shatter your ankle, you are going to be able to recover quite a bit more, since you will likely have much higher medical bills.
2. Life and Work Restrictions – You can also earn compensation if your injuries prevent you from being able to work or participate in other life activities. Determining value out of these missed events requires doing some math involving your salary, time missed, and other related factors.
3. Fault – Fault plays a big role in determining how much compensation you receive. In most cases, the pedestrian is not at fault, because they were in a bike path or crosswalk at the time of the injury. There are instances where a court rules that the pedestrian is partly at fault for their injuries, and that can affect their total award amount. For example, if the court rules that the pedestrian would be entitled to $100,000, but they were given a 25 percent contributory fault rating, it means they would be limited to 75 percent of the full award amount, or $75,000.
4. Your Lawyer – Finally, one of the biggest factors in determining your potential award amount is your lawyer. You need to make sure you find a lawyer you is going to work hard to maximize your award amount and really take the time to understand all the complexities of your case. For most injury lawyers, getting an award settlement in the wake of a pedestrian accident is pretty easy, but getting the maximum award is not. Don’t trust your case to a lawyer who is going to put in minimal effort in order to get you a modest payday and an easy commission for themselves.
At Hey Workers, we analyze all the facets of your case in order to make a clear argument of why you should be able to receive the largest compensation award possible. Our goal isn’t to get you paid, it’s to get your paid the most money possible in the wake of your injuries. Anybody can get you compensation, but few lawyers can get you the biggest award possible. We know the best strategies for achieving this.
So if you’ve been injured by another driver or as a result of negligence by the city while you’re acting as a pedestrian or cyclist, trust Hey Workers to consider all the above factors and create an argument that puts you in the best position to collect the most compensation possible. You’ve earned this money, let us help you get it. For more information or to set up a consultation with a member of our firm, contact our office at (844) 439-9675.
