How Much Is My Accident Worth?
What kind of settlement can you get for your motor vehicle accident depends on several factors.
Hurt in a motor vehicle accident and wonder what your claim is worth? The worth is based on the specific circumstances of your accident, and the answer is, unfortunately, it depends. In general, here’s what you may get compensation for:
1. Economic Damages
These include your past, present, and future medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and property loss. They are more straightforward and easier to calculate than other types of damages. To recover for them, the plaintiff must prove that they are related to the accident.
2. Non-Economic Damages
These include things such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium(the lessened ability to participate in family relationships). These are more subjective and open to debate. Examples include the inability to have children, the social and mental effects of losing a limb, and not being able to play with children or grandchildren. Placing an exact value on these things is tough. Having a skilled and experienced personal injury lawyer becomes helpful.
3. Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are meant to punish. They come into play when society wants to prevent defendants, and others like them, from ever engaging in similar behavior again. Generally, they involve reckless or harmful behavior. They can get awarded when an accident victim was injured by a DUI driver. Operating a motor vehicle while drunk may constitute reckless conduct, so punitive damages act to discourage them and others from like behavior.
How Much is My Car Accident Settlement Worth?
Generally speaking, juries tend to place a greater value on cases where there are serious or permanent injuries. Both the insurance companies and personal injury attorneys negotiate on the basis of how a jury would react to the injured party and their injuries. An injury could bring a higher settlement or verdict if:
- Injuries are visible and serious.
- Injuries are permanent or disabiling
- Treatment was rendered over a long period of time
- Injuries were not responsive to proper medical treatment
- Treatment included invasive or complicated procedures such as surgery
The insurance company and your lawyer will look at the above factors, medical bills, and your "pain and suffering" to establish a value estimate of your case. Many other outside factors may be included in this assessment. Your attorney should convey to the insurance company how the accident and the injuries affected your life. An experienced personal injury attorney will help you properly negotiate your case and resolve to conclusion in front of a jury.
I always offer a free consultation on your case. Please contact me through the form or call 404-610-4429 today to discuss your case.