What Is My Guam Injury Case Worth?

Economic Damages: The Calculable Losses

Economic damages are the quantifiable financial losses caused by your injury. They include: past and future medical expenses (ER, surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, medications, medical equipment, future care needs), lost wages from time missed at work, future lost earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work long-term, and property damage (vehicle repair or replacement). Keep every medical bill, pay stub, and receipt — these documents form the foundation of your economic damages claim.

Non-Economic Damages: Pain, Suffering, and Quality of Life

Non-economic damages compensate for losses that are real but harder to quantify: physical pain and suffering (past and future), emotional distress and psychological trauma, loss of enjoyment of life (inability to participate in activities you previously enjoyed), disfigurement and scarring, and loss of consortium (impact on your relationship with your spouse). Guam does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases. Serious injuries — fractures, TBI, spinal cord injuries, permanent scarring — command significantly higher non-economic damages.

How Comparative Fault Affects Your Recovery

Guam follows modified comparative negligence. If you were partially at fault for the accident, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover anything. Insurance adjusters will aggressively argue that you were partially at fault to reduce their payout. An attorney can counter these arguments with evidence — police reports, witness statements, accident reconstruction, and FMCSA records in truck cases.

Factors That Increase or Decrease Case Value

Factors that increase case value: severe injuries with high medical costs, permanent disability or disfigurement, clear liability (the other driver was clearly at fault), strong evidence (police report, witnesses, surveillance footage), high insurance policy limits, and reckless or intoxicated conduct (which may support punitive damages). Factors that decrease case value: shared fault, delayed medical treatment (gaps in care give insurers ammunition to argue your injuries were pre-existing or not serious), low insurance policy limits, and weak evidence. An attorney can evaluate all of these factors for your specific case.

Key Takeaways

• Economic damages include all medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage
• Non-economic damages (pain and suffering) are not capped in most Guam personal injury cases
• Comparative fault reduces your recovery — an attorney can counter fault arguments
• Seek medical care immediately — gaps in treatment reduce case value
• Keep every medical bill, pay stub, and receipt
• Punitive damages may be available if the defendant was reckless or intoxicated

Frequently Asked Questions