What You Get From an
Auto Accident Settlement
The amount you receive for an
auto accident law firms accident settlement is contingent on the degree of your injuries. More severe injuries can result in larger current and future medical expenses.
Documenting your losses can help maximize your settlement. Your lawyer can prepare an inventory of damages, including doctor's notes wages, and eyewitness testimony.
Medical bills
When people get hurt in a car crash medical bills are often in the forefront of their minds. Fortunately, the law generally covers these costs in personal injury cases. It can take months, and in some cases years, before the at-fault driver is deemed to be liable in a court verdict or settlement agreement however. In the meantime, victims accrue medical bills that need to be paid.
Injuries from car accidents typically require extensive medical procedures like surgery or physical therapy. The resulting medical bills can be substantial. It is crucial for victims to realize that they shouldn't have to shoulder the financial burden of paying their own medical bills following an accident, and the driver at fault should be accountable for paying them as part of their settlement.
In certain cases the at-fault party may pay for the victim's medical bills directly. In other situations the victim's health insurance plan or med-pay policy will pay for these costs when they become. Based on the situation of the victim and the type of insurance coverage, these expenses could also be covered under rolling claims.
In certain cases hospitals or health insurance provider might place a lien on a portion of the victim's final settlement. An experienced attorney can negotiate these liens in order to put more money into the victim's pockets.
Loss of wages
A car accident can have a devastating effect on your financial situation. It is also possible to pay lost earnings due to your injuries, in addition to the cost of medical bills and property damage. New York law requires that your insurance policy for cars reimburse you for lost income up to a limit. Your attorney will work to receive the full amount you are entitled to for the lost income.
Paystubs, as well as other wage documents are the most commonly used method to prove lost income. Other documents to consider are bank statements, invoices and correspondence for self-employed workers. The correspondence from your employer that confirms the number of hours/days you were off work due to your injuries is equally important.
If you have an injury that permanently limits or stops the ability to earn your salary, your lawyer will consult an economist or financial advisor to determine your earning potential. In this type of case the expert will evaluate your education, age, qualifications, training and career progression, as well as tasks that you can no longer perform.
At Michaels Bersani Kalabanka, our Syracuse car accident lawyers frequently meet with clients who are seriously injured in accidents and are no longer work. Not only do they have the right to compensation for lost wages due to accidents that weren't their responsibility, but they may also be eligible for additional compensation through the insurance company of the driver or car owner who was responsible.
Suffering and pain
After a crash, car victims should be compensated for their emotional stress and pain. Insurance companies tend to ignore emotional distress and pain because they aren't documented by x-rays or photos. This is why it's so important to have a qualified personal injury lawyer in your corner when dealing with the at-fault driver's insurer.
Your Queens injury attorney can help you gather evidence to back your claim. Medical bills and official diagnoses, for instance can be used to demonstrate the severity of a victim's injuries. A journal or diary that begins at the time of the accident and continues throughout the healing process, may record physical and emotional pain and distress.
The severity of your injuries will also impact the amount of settlement you receive. For instance, a serious spinal cord injury or a severe brain trauma may result in a greater amount than a minor head injury that was cured in three weeks.
The amount of your injuries are a critical element that will impact your
auto accident settlement. Your lawyer can help you determine your damages and develop an effective case to receive the full compensation you deserve. To find out more about the kinds of damages that may be awarded in the course of a New York auto accident lawsuit, contact an experienced attorney.
Damages
As we have discussed previously settlement awards are meant to compensate victims of car accidents for their financial losses. The amount of compensation awarded will depend on the severity and degree of the injuries sustained by the victim as well as the amount of money they have lost because of their absence from work or property damage.
Additionally, an award may also cover non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering. Insurance companies use an equation to calculate the amount they have to pay. These damages are difficult to quantify however they can be determined. A multiplier, often calculated based on medical costs, is added to the quantifiable costs to calculate a settlement amount for non-economic damages. Major injuries and permanent impairments are typically rewarded with higher amounts than minor injuries or temporary injuries.
A car accident can be a traumatic experience and the financial losses that come to it can be devastating. The amount of the settlement will not erase these losses but it can assist victims to overcome their financial burdens and return to normal.
An experienced car accident lawyer can assess your case and negotiate the highest settlement possible. While it may seem appealing to settle for less than what you are entitled to, this could hinder your future recovery. You give up your rights to sue or file additional claims for the accident once you sign the settlement agreement.