There is no reliable average value. Two patients affected by similar errors may have very different losses.
Relevant factors include:
- The seriousness and permanence of the injury
- The cost of past and future care
- Lost income and reduced earning ability
- The effect on the patient’s independence and family
- The strength of the standard-of-care evidence
- Whether the negligence clearly caused the outcome
- Available insurance and responsible parties
A meaningful valuation usually cannot be completed until the medical evidence and long-term prognosis are understood.
