Being a victim of a motor vehicle accident can be a traumatic and stressful experience. The injuries caused by such accidents can be catastrophic and impact all aspects of your life.
As you recover from your injuries, you may be wondering ‘what is the average compensation you can you expect in settlement?’ This is a complicated question and the answer depends on different variables and factors that have contributed to the accident. Luckily, car accident lawyers, like the ones at Riddle and Brantley, have provided some helpful information you can use to better understand these factors.
Factors that Determine the Compensation
The two main determining factors are:
Liability: The liability for the accident is the most important contributing factor in your claim compensation amount. As per some state laws, if you are even slightly at fault due to which an accident has occurred, you may not be eligible to claim for any kind of compensation for your damages and injuries.
Injuries: Compensation is also determined by the extent of your injury. If you have suffered minor injuries like small cuts, scrapes, minor fractures or contusions, you may receive a smaller settlement amount. However, if you have suffered serious injuries such as those causing long-term disability or fatalities you could receive a larger settlement.
Average Compensation Calculation
The amount received in car accident claim is unique to each case. Even if two individuals have incurred the same kind of injuries, their claim compensation may vary depending on the following:
- Time spent in the hospital
- Injury recovery time
- Emotional Impact
- Physical loss, cognitive damage and impairment
- Interference in completing daily activities
- Temporary or permanent disability
- Rehabilitative therapy
Moreover, the settlement also varies based on the medical bills, expenses for any additional damages, wage losses, when can you return to work, future medical expenses that you may incur, and any form of pain or suffering that you have experienced or may experience in the future.
You can calculate the average compensation that should be receive by totaling the cost of the economic damages mentioned above and using and additional factor based on the non-economic damages already incurred or that may be experienced in the future. It should be noted that in certain states, even if you have 1% fault due to which the accident occurred, and the insurance company or the defense counsel is can prove it, you may not be able to claim compensation. Also, you should keep in mind that despite the severity of your pain and injuries, the insurance companies may apply different tactics to reject, deny or reduce your claim compensation.
How can a Good Car Accident Lawyer help you?
If you or your loved one have suffered injuries in a motor vehicle accident that was a result of someone else’s negligence you are eligible to claim for compensation. A knowledgeable car accident attorney will help you understand your options and file the for a claim compensation on your behalf. Along with the financial costs, there are several non-financial costs such as your mental and emotional suffering that you are paying as a result of the accident. A seasoned lawyer has expertise on such matters and can assist you in receiving the remuneration that you rightfully deserve.