Maison Law represents hand injury victims in California. The average payout for a hand injury in a Home Depot Slip-and-Fall Accident can vary widely. From four-figure payout to high, seven-figure settlements, the amount of compensation you receive will largely be dependent on the severity of the injury, liability in the incident, and the skill of your legal representation.
At Maison Law, we have years of experience reaching successful settlements against major corporations like Home Depot. Contact us today for a no-cost, confidential consultation to see what legal options are available to you.
Hand Injury Settlements in California Home Depot Slip-and-Fall
Hand injuries can range anywhere from torn ligaments to broken bones. In most cases, hand injuries will settle in the $10,000 to $100,000 range. However, the final settlement amount will largely be based on the severity of your injury. For example, if your hand injury requires surgery, or results in permanent disability, then your settlement can be far more substantial.
Average hand injury settlements include:
- Low settlements: low settlements usually consist of minor accidents with little to no injuries. These could include back sprains and strains. Medical bills and property damage costs are usually low in minor accidents, so the settlement amount will reflect the cost of damages. These tend to fall around $5,000 to $10,000.
- Moderate settlements: moderate settlements apply to accidents with moderate injuries such as broken bones or soft tissue damage. These injuries will require some medical treatment, as well as some missed work. The recovery period can be somewhat long, but victims typically make a full recovery. These tend to fall anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000.
- High settlements: high settlements involve severe injuries, resulting in long-term medical treatment or permanent disability. These cases usually receive substantial compensation due to the extent of medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, as well as the extent of negligence which caused the accident. These tend to fall anywhere from $100,000 to millions of dollars.
What Impacts the Settlement Value of a Hand Injury?
Several key factors significantly influence the average settlement in hand injury accident cases:
- Liability: the degree to which the defendant is found responsible for your injury can add value to your settlement. The more reckless the defendant’s actions usually result in a higher settlement.
- Insurance coverage: the defendant’s insurance policy limits can cap the maximum settlement amount. If the defendant has an insufficient insurance policy, then alternate means of compensation will have to be pursued.
- Contributory negligence: California is a pure comparative negligence state, meaning even if you’re found 99% at fault for the accident, you can still collect 1% of compensation.
- Nature and extent of Injury: the cost of all reasonably necessary medical treatment and the estimated cost of future medical treatment are essential to the value of a case.
- Objective findings for physical pain: pain is a subjective thing, so, objective evidence is needed to support it in a personal injury case. This is usually presented in the form of X-rays and MRIs.
- Medical history: a history of preexisting hand injuries or degenerative conditions can reduce the case’s value. Insurance companies often argue that the hand injury resulted from preexisting issues rather than the incident itself.
- Plaintiff’s Age: this factor ties closely to medical history. Since hand problems are often associated with aging, younger plaintiffs generally fare better in hand injury cases. It’s easier for a younger person to convince a jury or insurance adjuster that their hands were fine before the accident.
- Permanent impairment: the most critical factor in a hand injury settlement is whether the injury results in permanent impairment. A permanent disability, especially one that affects the plaintiff’s ability to perform simple tasks, can drastically impact their quality of life. As a result, compensation for a permanent injury is typically much higher than for an injury that heals.
Understanding Premises Liability in a Home Depot Slip-and-Fall Accident in California
Home Depot has a responsibility to ensure its premises are safe for guests because it owns the property where its stores are located. If a failure to maintain a safe environment results in someone getting injured, the property owner is liable according to California’s Civil Code 1714(a), which states:
“Everyone is responsible, not only for the result of his or her willful acts, but also for an injury occasioned to another by his or her want of ordinary care or skill in the management of his or her property or person, except so far as the latter has, willfully or by want of ordinary care, brought the injury upon himself or herself.”
How Much Compensation Should I Ask for in a Home Depot Slip-and-Fall Hand Injury Settlement?
You should always ask for more in a personal injury settlement. Making a settlement demand with the insurance is a negotiation and you should ask for 2 to 3 times more than you think your case is worth. This may seem high, but the insurance company will be making an initial settlement offer that is extremely low. So, it is wise to ask for an amount in a demand letter that is well above what you think you deserve.
A demand letter should be descriptive, factual, and truthful. A well-written demand letter can go a long way toward getting the compensation you want, which is why it is recommended to have a skilled Personal Injury Lawyer assist you with writing it. The details of the demand letter should contain:
- The time, date, and location of the accident
- The name of the person/company/government entity at fault, along with their contact information (if applicable)
- Details of the injuries you’ve sustained directly from the accident
- Summary of damages incurred, which include medical bills, lost wages, and non-economic damages
- Supporting documents, which may include X-rays, MRIs, and other photos or videos of the accident if you have them
Contact a Home Depot Slip-and-Fall Injury Lawyer in California
If you or a loved one has suffered a hand injury at Home Depot due to a hazardous condition, Maison Law is here to get you the compensation you need. Our team of experienced accident attorneys understands how to aggressively pursue compensation from major corporations and will hold them fully accountable for your injuries. Contact Maison Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation. There are no hidden fees and you will not be charged a cent until we’ve won your case.
