Average Value of a Tree Branch Collapse Injury Case

Falling tree branches on decaying trees are one of the biggest sources of accidents on private and public properties. To prevent injuries, property owners must inspect their trees on a regular basis and take care of hazards that can cause the branch to fall off. This can be as simple as removing loose branches and cutting back branches that have gotten too long.

Without these basic preventative measures, branches can snap off during windy or stormy weather and strike an unsuspecting victim. However, plenty of branches have broken off during good weather conditions due to the owner’s failure to take care of the tree. Depending on the size and weight of the tree branch, victims can suffer severe injuries, including paralysis, traumatic brain damage, and death.

Steps to take if You’ve been Injured by a Collapsing Tree Branch

If you have been harmed by a falling tree branch, please seek medical attention right away. Your injuries may not seem that serious at first, but they can easily get worse without treatment and medication. Additionally, you may struggle with PTSD, nightmares, and other mental health issues in the upcoming days. Emotional distress is extremely common in tree branch collapse accidents, so don’t hesitate to reach out to a mental health counselor.

Along with medical intervention, you will need legal advice from an experienced premises liability lawsuit attorney. If negligence was by the property owner led to your accident, you can pursue monetary damages through an injury claim or lawsuit. But the steps to recovering a settlement vary depending on who is responsible for the tree. This could be a private residence owner, a private business, or a government entity if we’re talking about public properties like parks and roadways.

There are numerous other concerns that will need to be addressed in order to succeed in one of these cases. If you or a loved one suffered a tree branch collapse injury, the lawyers of Normandie would like to speak with you. Whether you want to start an injury claim or need advice regarding a pending lawsuit, we are here to guide you every step of the way. Contact our office and schedule a free case review as soon as you can.

Average Value of a Tree Branch Injury Accident Lawsuit

The average value of a tree branch injury case is around $350,000, though settlements of $1 million or more are not uncommon. The type and extent of your injuries are the most important factor in determining a case value. Cases with minor injuries, for example, are generally settled for $10,000 to $75,000. But tree branch accidents with multiple injuries that require surgery and rehabilitative services may be worth $300,000 or more. Severe injury claims with lifelong damage, such as paralysis and amputation may be worth several million dollars.

Aside from you injuries, what makes these cases so valuable? There are various answers to this question, but generally, you have to consider the totality of a victim’s loss after an accident. Obviously, there’s the cost of treatment and missed time from work. But there are losses the victim will have to deal with for many months and years, perhaps for the rest of their life.

Thus, when we calculate a settlement on a client’s behalf, here are the following damages we may ask for:

• Medical expenses
• Future medical treatments / medications
• Cost of mental health counseling
• Cost of assisted care
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium
• Property damage
• Attorney’s fees

Each of these damages can be significant, depending on the victim’s personal circumstances. If you’re unable to work, for example, that alone can entitle you to over $1 million in compensation. However, some damages, like pain and suffering, are much harder to estimate as they’re based on emotional suffering. A lawyer experienced with personal injury claims can assist you in this area and ensure that you are fairly compensated by the responsible party.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements

Wrongful Death Compensation for Family Members and Loved Ones

If you lost a family member or loved one to a tree branch collapse accident, you can also seek compensation through a wrongful death claim. These damages are based on what you lose and the harm you suffer as a result of your loved one’s death. Through a wrongful death lawsuit, you can request:

• Medical expenses
• Funeral costs
• Cost of therapy
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of the decedent’s financial contributions
• Loss of benefits / inheritance
• Legal fees

Money cannot take the place of someone you loved, but you should not have to struggle with the losses that were caused by someone else. Our lawyers can explain each of these damages to you in detail and recover a fair settlement for you and your family.

Injuries from a Tree Branch Collapse Accident

As previously stated, the specific injuries you have will be the main factor in figuring out what your case is worth. When you look at the injuries that are commonly associated with tree branch collapse accidents, it’s not surprising why these cases are so valuable. If you’ve been struck by a falling tree branch, you may suffer from:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Skull fracture
• Spinal cord damage
• Neck injury
• Hand / wrist fracture
• Knee injury
• Facial scarring
• Eye damage
• Broken ribs
• Punctured organs
• Dislocated / fractured shoulder
• Coma
• Loss of limb (amputation)
• Paralysis
• Death

Previous Settlements for Tree Branch Collapse Accident Lawsuits

We know from experience how devastating these accidents can be for the victims and their loved ones. There are many losses that the victim will struggle with for the rest of their lives, which is why case values for a tree branch fall injury are easily in the 6-7 figure range. Just take a look at the following settlements and verdicts throughout the country:

• A Chicago woman sustained a fractured wrist when a tree branch fell on her while she was getting out of her car. The incident was incredibly traumatic for the plaintiff, who developed PTSD. As the accident occurred on a property she was renting, her lawyer filed an injury claim with the landlord’s insurance company. The two parties came to an agreement and settled the case for $100,000.

• A New Jersey man was struck by a branch from a decaying tree, which fell onto his car as he was driving along Route 29. The plaintiff sustained severe, permanent injuries but was unable to negotiate a settlement with NJDOT. The case went to trial, and the plaintiff was awarded $6 million through a jury verdict.

• A Pennsylvania man was injured when a dead tree fell on top of his car as he was driving through Warwick Township. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was in a coma for two months. He also lost two fingers and was left with life-long brain damage. His attorney filed a lawsuit against the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, since the tree was on a state road. At trial, the plaintiff was awarded $2.2 million.

• A San Francisco mother was struck by a 100-pound tree branch while she was at a playground with her daughters. The accident fractured her skull and severed her spinal cord, leaving her completely paralyzed from the waist down. Her lawyer sued the city and county for improper maintenance of the tree and settled her case for $14.5 million.

While the value of your own claim will be different, these cases show the possibility of what can be recovered from one of these accidents. To get an idea of your own case value, schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys.

How long does it take to settle a Tree Branch Injury Claim?

On average, it takes around 6 months to 2 years to settle a tree branch injury claim. However, the exact amount of time it takes to settle one of these cases generally depends on your injuries. If the injuries are fairly minor, a tree branch insurance claim may be settled within 30 days to a few months. But as we’ve mentioned, many of these accidents result in serious, long-term or permanent injuries. In that case, it may not be possible to recover a fair settlement through an insurance claim. At that point, you will need to proceed with a lawsuit, which can take 2 years or more to settle.

Keep in mind that this is a general timeline, and each case has their own set of factors that you should discuss with an attorney. Our lawyers are waiting to speak with you, so don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Free Second Opinion

Are you currently working with an attorney, but feel like your case is worth more than what they’re telling you? Maybe you’re unhappy with other aspects of their service, but you’re not sure about your options when you’re in the middle of a case.

Our attorneys will be happy to advise you during a second opinion consultation. During this time, one of our lawyers will review the details of your accident and verify whether your case value is in line with your injuries. We can also address any other concerns you have about your attorney. For example, perhaps they’re taking too long to settle your case when there is no reason for the delay. We may be able to settle your case in 30 days, depending on the circumstances of your accident.

If you decide to change over to our law firm, we’ll take care of transferring your case from your old firm. No matter what, the consultation is completely free so there’s no risk to you by speaking with one of our attorneys. To schedule a second opinion, please give us a call at our office.

The Personal Injury Lawyers of Normandie

Legal representation is the most important aspect of recovering compensation when you’ve been injured on someone else’s property. However, many people are nervous about the cost of hiring an attorney, and try to navigate the lawsuit process on their own. We understand the stress that you’re under, and would like to put your mind at ease with our Zero fee guarantee. This is a contingency agreement, where all our legal fees are deferred until the end of your case. The only way we get paid is by recovering the settlement you deserve. If we don’t win your case, we eat the costs and you owe us absolutely nothing.

Please take this opportunity to speak with one of our attorneys. We have many years of recovering injury settlements for premises liability lawsuits, and we are happy to do the same for you. Contact our law firm and schedule a free case evaluation.