It only takes a few seconds for your life to change because of a serious car accident. The injuries sustained in the wreck can have life-long consequences on your health and lifestyle. If you are injured because of a car accident, maximize insurance compensation to offset the monetary impact.
Costs Add Up After a Car Accident
It can be surprising to see how much a serious car accident can take a toll on your finances. The unexpected bills start rolling in, and many car accident victims find it challenging to keep up with these expenses. If you can relate to this situation, you need to talk to our legal team about seeking insurance compensation.
Here are some of the expenses that add up after a car accident:
- Medical Bills: Injuries require immediate treatment in a hospital. Additionally, there are often ongoing medical care and treatments to assist accident victims in recovery. In serious situations, medical bills can be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars because of surgery, rehabilitation, and more.
- Property Damage: The next cost to consider is the amount of property damage resulting from the accident. Not only is there damage to the cars involved, but nearby buildings and structures sometimes require repair. Other examples of property damage include broken street signs, landscaping, and any other damaged features in the area.
- Pain and Suffering: How do you put a price tag on the suffering you are experiencing because of the accident? These injuries disrupt every aspect of your life, which is why you should always ask for pain and suffering as part of the insurance compensation. Your attorney can offer personal recommendations regarding the amount of money you might receive for pain and suffering.
- Lost Wages: Were you unable to work during your recovery time? When the injuries are so severe that it puts you out of work, ask for insurance compensation to cover your wages. You’ll need to show documentation about your previous income. Additionally, keep notes about the amount of time and days you are out of work after a car accident.
- Disability or Death: With mild or moderate car accidents, most people are able to return to their daily activities after recovery. But if you are the victim of a serious car accident, then the injuries might have a life-long impact. The available insurance coverage goes up if you experience a permanent disability. Or, compensation is available for the family if a loved one passes away due to accident injuries.
The best way to negotiate your insurance compensation is by working with a knowledgeable car accident lawyer. Our team will help you build a case and finalize the details of your settlement. We have years of experience and understand the best negotiation techniques to optimize your payout.
Factors Affecting Insurance Compensation
What will the insurance adjuster consider when determining the amount they are willing to pay for your case? Of course, most accident victims want to know what their case is worth. But it’s not a simple answer to finalize the number without considering a variety of factors.
Here are some of the details that can affect your settlement amount:
- Type of Injury: One of the most critical factors that will affect your settlement is the type of injury sustained in the accident. If the injury is life-changing, then you will be a good candidate for a larger settlement.
- Severity of Injury: How much is this injury affecting your quality of life? When disability occurs, you will receive a higher payout compared to someone who will make a full recovery.
- Career and Wages: Lost wages are calculated by the amount of income you earned before the accident. Someone working an entry-level job will receive a smaller amount in lost wages compared to a working professional.
- Recovery Time: The time you must spend away from work can influence the compensation you receive. For example, if you are out of the office for several months after the accident, it increases the money you can negotiate with the insurance company.
- Negligence: When you can prove the negligence of another person or business, then you could hold them liable for your injuries. Insurance compensation is often higher when the evidence shows that another person was deliberate with decisions that affect the safety of other people. Talk to your attorney to determine if you should seek punitive damages.
- Overall Health: If you were in reasonably good health without pre-existing conditions, then you have a stronger case to receive financial compensation. The insurance adjuster will look at your personal information and medical history. Their goal is to find pre-existing conditions that could be contributing to the injury (outside of the crash).
- Age: When someone is seriously injured at a young age, they usually receive more compensation than an older adult with similar injuries. Since a younger person’s life expectancy is longer, there are many more years of pain and suffering.
- Mental Health: Not only can insurance compensation cover the physical pain from your injury, but it can also take a toll on mental health as well. When you need to seek mental health services for PTSD, then make sure to ask the insurance provider for coverage.
- Trial or Settlement: Most insurance companies want to settle out of court because the overall costs are cheaper. You can accept the offer or choose to pursue insurance compensation through a lawsuit. Often, payouts are higher in court. But the risk of a trial is a possibility that can occur if a jury or judge decides to rule in favor of the other party.
Experienced Team for Insurance Negotiations
You deserve the best support possible when negotiating the terms of your settlement. Make sure to hire a legal team you can trust. We invite you to contact Shamieh Law to discuss your case. We’ll offer personal recommendations and a custom strategy to help you access the total amount of insurance compensation available for your injuries.
