By Sarah Freedman, Personal Injury Attorney at Jordan Law Accident & Injury Lawyers
One of the most common misconceptions I hear from injured people is this:
“I was hit by someone else, so my case is already worth a lot of money… right?”
I understand why people think that. If you were hurt through no fault of your own, it feels intuitive that compensation should automatically follow. But personal injury law doesn’t work that way — and that misunderstanding causes a lot of confusion, frustration, and sometimes bad decisions early in a case.
So I want to explain, clearly and honestly, what lawyers mean when we talk about “building the value” of a personal injury claim — and what that does not mean.
Personal Injury Cases Don’t Start With Value — They Start at Zero
This part surprises people the most.
In a personal injury case, you are not automatically owed money just because a car crash happened. If an accident occurs and nothing in your life changes — no pain, no medical treatment, no disruption — then legally, there are no damages to compensate.
That’s why I often tell clients:
Cases don’t start at the policy limits. They start at zero.
Value is not assumed. It has to be proven.
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What “Building a Case” Actually Means (And What It Doesn’t)
When lawyers talk about “building” a case, some people worry that it means exaggerating injuries or creating something that isn’t real. That’s not what I mean at all.
Building a case means:
- Making sure you get the medical care you actually need
- Documenting how the injury affects your daily life
- Preserving records that show what you’ve been through
- Telling the full, accurate story of how the injury changed things for you
Nothing is fabricated. Nothing is inflated. Everything is documented.
Medical Treatment Is the Foundation of Case Value
Medical care plays a central role in personal injury cases, not because bills are “good,” but because they are evidence.
If you’re injured and never see a doctor, it becomes very difficult to prove:
- That you were actually hurt
- How serious the injury was
- How long it lasted
- Whether it required ongoing care
Insurance companies don’t take people at their word. They rely on records.
That’s why I often have to explain this difficult truth:
Your case value doesn’t go down because you have medical bills.
Your case value goes up because those bills show economic damages.
That doesn’t mean treatment should be unnecessary or excessive — it means it should be appropriate, consistent, and documented.
Why Insurance Companies Start From “Nothing”
Another common assumption is that the at-fault driver’s insurance will simply step in and “pay for everything.”
In reality, the default position of an insurance company is to pay nothing unless and until they are presented with a well-supported claim.
They don’t see your pain.
They don’t feel your disruption.
They don’t experience your limitations.
They evaluate paper.
So part of my job is translating a very human experience into something that can be understood, evaluated, and — if necessary — defended in court.
Non-Economic Damages Matter, Too
Not all value comes from medical bills.
A properly built case also documents:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of normal activities
- Inconvenience
- Impact on family responsibilities and relationships
If you couldn’t care for your kids the same way, had to miss important events, or lost independence during recovery, that matters. But it has to be shown, not assumed.
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Why We Build Every Case as If It Could Go to Trial
At Jordan Law, we approach every case with the understanding that while most claims resolve through settlement, the possibility of trial is always on the table.
Building a case properly means:
- Organizing records
- Preserving timelines
- Documenting impact
- Preparing evidence that would make sense to a jury
When an insurance company knows a case is trial-ready, it changes how seriously they take it. That preparation often leads to better settlements — not because of threats, but because the work has been done correctly.
The Goal Isn’t to Drag Things Out — It’s to Do Them Right
Building value doesn’t mean delaying resolution. In fact, it often prevents delays.
When a case is incomplete, poorly documented, or rushed, insurers push back. When it’s thorough and well-supported, resolution is often smoother and more efficient.
The goal is not to maximize paperwork — it’s to accurately reflect what you’ve been through and pursue fair compensation based on real evidence.
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Final Thought: Building Value Is About Being Made Whole
At its core, building the value of a personal injury claim is about one thing: helping you be made whole after something unfair happened to you.
That takes medical care, documentation, and thoughtful legal work. It doesn’t happen automatically — and it shouldn’t be rushed or misunderstood.
If you’re unsure where your case stands, or you’re confused about whether you’re “doing the right things,” that’s exactly the kind of question I’m happy to answer.
Even if you’re just trying to understand the process, a conversation can bring clarity — and clarity is where good decisions start.