What You Get From an Auto Accident Settlement

The amount you are awarded for a car accident settlement depends on the severity of your injuries. More severe injuries will result in greater current and future medical costs.

Documenting these losses can aid in maximizing your settlement. Your lawyer can prepare a list of damages including doctor's notes, wage records, as well as eyewitness testimonies.

Medical bills

Medical bills are often the first thing that people think about when they get injured in a car accident. Fortunately, the law usually covers these expenses in personal injury cases. However, it could take months or even years before the at-fault motorist is held accountable by a court decision or settlement agreement. In the meantime, victims accumulate medical bills that need to be paid.

Car accident injuries typically require significant medical treatments including surgery and physical therapy. The associated medical costs can be quite high. It is crucial for victims to know that they should not have to shoulder the cost of their own medical bills after an accident, and that the driver who caused the crash should be responsible for paying them as part of their accident settlement.

In certain instances, a party at fault will pay directly for the victim's medical expenses. In other situations the victim's health insurance, or med-pay coverage will cover these expenses as they accumulate. Based on the situation of the victim and type of insurance coverage, these bills could be covered under rolling claims.

In certain cases hospitals or health insurance provider may make a lien on a portion of the victim's eventual settlement. A qualified attorney can help negotiate these liens to put more money into the pockets of the victim.

Lost wages

A car accident can cause havoc to your financial situation. It is also possible to pay the cost of lost wages due to injuries, along with medical bills and property damage. New York law requires car insurance policies to pay for lost income up to a specific amount. Your lawyer will fight for the full amount of your missed earnings.

The most common method to prove lost earnings is to submit paychecks or other forms of wage documentation. If you were self-employed, or worked on commissions, other relevant documents include profit-and-loss statements, receipts, invoices, bank statements, and finance-related correspondence. Correspondence from your employer corroborating the number of working days you were off work due to injuries is also important.

If you have an injury that will permanently limit or limits your ability to earn your salary, your lawyer will consult an economist or financial expert to determine your future earning potential. In this type of case the expert will look at your age, education level, credentials, training as well as your career path and tasks that you can no longer fulfill.

At Michaels Bersani Kalabanka, our Syracuse car accident lawyers often encounter clients who have been severely injured in accidents and can no longer work. Not only do they have the right to compensation for lost wages due to accidents that were not their responsibility, but they may also be eligible to receive additional compensation through the insurance company of the driver or owner of the vehicle who was responsible.

Suffering and pain

Car accident victims are entitled to compensation for the emotional stress and pain they feel following an accident. But, since emotional stress and physical pain are not captured in a photograph or documented by x-rays insurance companies tend to discredit these losses. It is crucial to have a skilled personal injury lawyer on your side when dealing with the insurer of the driver at fault.

Your Queens injury lawyer can assist you in gathering all types of evidence to prove your claim for damages. For instance, Auto accidents a victim's medical bills and written formal diagnoses can establish the severity of their injuries. A journal or diary that begins on the date of the accident and continues throughout the healing process, can document emotional distress and physical discomfort.

The severity of your injuries will also affect the amount you receive. For instance, a severe spinal cord injury or severe brain trauma may result in a greater settlement than a minor concussion that healed within three weeks.

The amount you pay for your auto accident will be affected by the amount of your injuries. Your lawyer will assist in formulating your damages and constructing an argument that is strong enough for you to get the full amount of compensation that you deserve. To learn more about the different types of damages that can be awarded in a New York auto accident lawsuit contact an experienced lawyer.

Damages

As we have discussed above, settlement awards aim to compensate victims of car accidents for their financial losses. The amount of compensation awarded will depend on the severity and extent of the injuries suffered by the victim, and also the amount of money they have lost because of work absence or property damage.

A verdict could also include non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. Insurance companies use an equation to calculate the amount they are required to pay. These damages are difficult to quantify, but they can be determined. To determine the amount to be paid for noneconomic damages, a multiplier is usually dependent on medical expenses. Major injuries and permanent impairments are usually rewarded with higher amounts than minor or injuries that are temporary.

A car accident can be an incredibly stressful experience that can drastically alter your life. The amount of the settlement will not erase these losses but it can aid victims in overcoming their financial difficulties and return to normalcy.

A lawyer who has experience can evaluate your case and negotiate the best settlement high as is possible. While it may seem appealing to take a lesser amount than you are entitled to, this could hinder your future recovery. You give up your rights to sue or file further claims related to the accident after you sign the settlement agreement.