If you are involved in a car accident, you may start worrying about how you will receive compensation for your injuries and what you can expect. Car accidents can be complicated as they involve multiple parties, and there is no simple answer for what you can expect in terms of claim compensation.
Factors Affecting Your Car Accident Compensation
According to this information from the car accident lawyers at Riddle and Brantley, if someone else’s negligence contributed to your car accident, you are eligible to sue the at-fault party and claim compensation. The two main factors that affect your claim compensation are:
Liability: Liability is the most critical factor on which your compensation largely depends. Liability laws vary depending on the state in which the accident took place. Some liability laws do not allow you to claim any compensation if you are even slightly responsible for the crash.
Injuries: The compensation amount depends on the extent of injuries you have suffered following your car accident. If any serious injuries resulted in a long-term disability, you would most likely be able to claim a large settlement. However, if you have only suffered minor cuts and fractures, your compensation amount will be small.
Average Expected Compensation after a Car Accident
The settlement you will receive following your car crash greatly depends on the circumstances that contributed to your accident and the injuries you suffered thereafter. Even if two people have the same kind of injuries, their compensation may vary depending on the factors below:
- Time duration of the hospital stay
- Time duration to recover from injuries
- Physical, emotional, and cognitive impact
- Requirement of rehabilitative therapy
- Interference in the ability to perform work tasks and daily activities
- Temporary or permanent disability
In addition to the injuries, the settlement amount is also based on medical bills, loss of wages, reduced earnings, any other bills associated with other damages, and medical expenses anticipated in the future. The pain and suffering you have already suffered or may suffer in the future can also affect your settlement amount. Claim compensation also depends on if you have incurred life-altering injuries that prevent you from moving independently, holding a job, or require you to have medical assistance for the rest of your life. Hence, average compensation is usually the total of economic and non-economic damages you have suffered. The non-economic damages can typically be calculated by adding a multiplying factor to the sum of economic damages.
How Can A Good Car Accident Lawyer Assist You?
Insurance companies are notorious for offering lower settlements regardless of your pain and injuries. Moreover, in some states, you may lose your right to claim compensation even if you have partial responsibility for causing the accident. Hence, it is recommended to hire a professional car accident attorney who will review your case and inform you about your legal options. An experienced lawyer will file for your claim compensation on your behalf, deal with insurance companies, and negotiate settlements so that you receive fair compensation for your damages and injuries.