How Much Is Your Workers’ Compensation Case Worth?
One of the most common questions we hear is:
“What is my workers’ comp case worth?”
The truth is, every workers’ compensation case is different. From the severity of your injury to your wage rate, the insurance company, the judge, and even your employer, every factor plays a role. Below are the key considerations that determine how much your work injury claim may be worth.
1. Every Case Is Unique
Ten workers with the same injury could each receive a different settlement. The value of your case depends on:
- Your age and job type
- Your average weekly wage
- Your future ability to work
- The insurance company’s history
- Which judge is assigned
That’s why you need a Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist, someone who knows how to fight for what your case is actually worth.
Meet our certified workers’ comp attorneys
2. No Payment for Pain and Suffering
Unlike personal injury claims, workers’ compensation does not pay for pain and suffering. You’re entitled to:
- Wage loss benefits based on a set formula
- Medical treatment that’s reasonable, necessary, and work related
It’s frustrating, and often unfair. But it’s the system we have, and it’s why skilled legal representation matters so much.
Read: Can you get pain and suffering in a PA workers’ comp claim?
3. Settlements Aren’t Guaranteed
No one, not even the judge, can force a settlement in a workers’ comp case.
If both sides can’t agree on every single term, there is no deal. And without a settlement, the insurance company can start filing petitions to cut off your benefits. You may be forced to fight again and again just to keep what you’ve already earned.
What to do if your workers’ comp payments stop early
Learn about denied claims and your rights
Explore lump sum settlements
4. Don’t Fall for the “Formula”
Insurance companies love to simplify things:
“Let’s take your weekly benefit and multiply it by 52 weeks or 104 weeks.”
It’s easy for them, and it’s usually a lowball.
What they ignore:
- The cost of your future medical care
- How long you’ll realistically be out of work
- The strength of your legal position
- Their own risk and legal expenses if you keep fighting
You need a lawyer who understands that insurance companies don’t care what your case is worth, only what it will cost them to keep fighting.
Explore how settlements are really calculated
5. The True Value of Your Case
Your case is worth whatever you can convince the insurance company to pay. That’s it.
But convincing them takes strategy, experience, and leverage. The more expensive your case looks to them in time, money, and risk, the more they’ll be willing to settle.
This is where having the right workers’ comp lawyer makes all the difference.
Real World Example
Imagine four people with the same exact injury, a herniated disc in the lower back:
- A 26 year old laborer earning $31,000 per year
- A 35 year old nurse earning $80,000 per year
- A 57 year old attorney earning $150,000 per year
- A 68 year old CEO earning $2 million per year
Now mix in complications:
- Pre existing conditions
- A car accident during recovery
- A denied claim
- A pending third party lawsuit
- A terminal illness
- A judge known for ruling against workers
Same injury, wildly different case values.
Why It Pays to Hire the Right Lawyer
Behind every insurance claim is a business model. Their goal is to reduce payouts, not to help you.
They hire:
- Skilled adjusters
- Defense attorneys
- Claims reps who do this every day
You need someone who does nothing but workers’ comp, someone who’s certified, battle tested, and local to Delaware County.
Talk to a Delaware County Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today
At Schmidt, Kirifides, Rassias & Rio, every attorney on our team is a Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist. We’ve represented injured workers across Delaware County and Media, fighting insurance companies and winning the benefits our clients deserve.
If you want to know what your case is truly worth, we’re ready to help.