• Emotional pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity (i.e. an inability to work in the future due to injuries)
• Medical bills
• Necessary ongoing treatments

All damages include present and future expected losses. You may also be eligible to recover punitive damages if you can prove the defendant’s conduct was intentional or malicious.

How much is my case worth?
Compensation for personal injury claims will depend on:

• The cost of your current medical bills and necessary ongoing treatments
• The severity and type of the injury (or whether a victim has died)
• Whether you are able to earn a living after being injured
• Settlements awarded in cases similar to yours
• Whether your condition is curable
• Whether your injury was caused by intentional harm or malice (rather than simply negligence)

Those with severe, incurable injuries that prevent them from working and were caused by intentional malice will likely recover high compensation.

Will I owe anything if we don’t win the case?
If we fail to prosecute your case successfully, no money will come out of your pocket. Costs are only incurred if we win.

How does the Joel G. Bowden Law Offices make money off a case?
Legal fees are based on a percentage rate of the total amount of money we are able to recover on your behalf. However, the majority of the time we are able to get the insurance company to compensate us for our services provided as well as pay what is owed to you.

How long can you estimate my case will last?
This depends on how intricate the case is that we are dealing with. A medical negligence case can last between one and two years from the day the complaint is first filed. Automobile/Motorcycle/Premise Liability/Slips and Falls/Tractor Trailer Collisions or Workers’ Compensation cases will normally reach resolution in four to eight months.

What is mediation?
A mediation is a settlement meeting that occurs before a case goes to trial. Both sides appear with legal representation before a mediator, and the mediator listens to each party’s story. If neither side agrees on a settlement during the mediation conference, the case goes to trial. Any information discussed during mediation cannot be used in a court of law.