In a personal injury case, especially one involving car wrecks, the settlement amount will depend on the kind of injuries and damages sustained. The impact of the injury will also influence the final settlement. Below is a hypothetical example of such a situation.
John, a professional athlete, was on his way home from training. A drunk driver ran a red light and hit John, who suffered multiple injuries, including broken limbs. The doctor's report revealed that John would never be able to walk again after the accident. As a result, his career came to an unfortunate ending.
From the above example, when such a case goes to court, the judge and jury will consider the impact of such an injury on John's life. Because the accident ended his professional career as an athlete, John can no longer care for himself and his family. In that case, when calculating the most reasonable settlement, the judge or jury will consider this factor.
They will also consider the pain and suffering John has experienced since the accident and how it could impact his life in the long run.
The bottom line is that the court will award both economic and non-economic damages, which fall under compensatory damages. In addition, the court might also award John with punitive damages, usually between 1.5 to 5 times the compensatory damages.