Bodily Injury Claim Evaluation

Training Manual Table of Contents

Section One: Evaluation Methods
Objective 1
Introduction 1
Workshop 1.1 - So Why Evaluate 3
Factors Influencing Value 5
Workshop 1.2 - What's It Worth 7
Four Step Evaluation Process 25
Step One: Evaluate the Special Damages 25
Workshop 1.3 -- What's It Worth: Special Damages  29
Step Two: Evaluate the General Damages 31
Workshop 1.4 -- What's It Worth: General Damages   33
Step Three: Develop Mitigating Factors  

35
Workshop 1.5 -- What's It Worth: Develop Mitigating Factors 37
Step Four: Establish a Settlement Range 39
Workshop 1.6 -- What's It Worth: Establish A Settlement Range 41
Other Methods of Evaluating Bodily Injury Claims 43
Three to Five Times the Specials 43
The Unit of Time Formula   44
Workshop 1.3 - Which Method Works Best? 47
Section Summary 49
Section Two: Past Damages
Objective 51
Introduction 51
Damages 52
Special Damages  52
General Damages   53
Pain & Suffering  53
Loss of Consortium 54
Disfigurement/Scarring 55
Workshop 2.1 - Case One: The Fractured Bone 57
Workshop 2.1 - Case Two: The Scar  59
Workshop 2.1 - Case Three: Soft Tissue 61
Workshop 2.1 - Case Four: How Do I Value This One 63
The Role of Independent Medical Exams (IMEs) in Evaluation 65
Workshop 2.2 - Critical Review of an IME 67
Workshop 2.3 - What Do I Do Now?  73
Section Summary  75
Section Three: Future Damages
Objective 77
Introduction  77
Claims Arising from Death 78
Survival Claims 78
Wrongful Death 79
Present Value 82
Workshop 3.1 - Reduction to Present Value 85
Evaluation of Claims Involving Future Damages 87
Workshop 3.2 - Evaluation of an Economist's Report  89
Workshop 3.3 - Death and Survival Claim Evaluation--Case One 99
Workshop 3.3 - Death and Survival Claim Evaluation--Case Two 103
Workshop 3.3 - Death and Survival Claim Evaluation--Case Three  107
Section Summary 110
Appendix - Life Expectancy, Worklife Expectancy and Future Damages Tables 111