Many people call the law firm of Lamber Goodnow to ask how much their injury claims might be worth. An attorney can't tell you how much you might recover in your case without meeting with you and reviewing the evidence. There is not a one-size-fits-all value that applies to product liability cases. Instead, the value of your claim will depend on the specific facts and circumstances of your case, including the severity of your injuries, the likelihood that you will recover, the nature of the defendant's actions, and others.
Damages can generally be divided into compensatory and punitive damages. Compensatory damages are monetary awards that are meant to compensate you for your losses and can be further divided into special and general damages. Special damages include compensation for your economic losses such as your medical expenses, wage losses, and other out-of-pocket expenses you incurred because of your injuries. General damages are for your non-economic losses and are more difficult to value. These include damages for your physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other types of non-economic losses.
Punitive damages are only awarded in cases in which a defendant's actions were outrageous, reckless, willful, or wanton. As such, they are rare. However, if the manufacturer in your case intentionally concealed the danger and continued selling the defective product despite its risks, punitive damages might be available. These are damages that are awarded to punish defendants and deter both them and others from engaging in similar conduct in the future.