What You Get From an Auto Accident Settlement

The amount you receive from a settlement agreement for a car crash will depend on the extent of your injuries. More severe injuries will result in greater current and future medical expenses.

Documenting your losses can help maximize your settlement. Your lawyer will be able to compile the complete list of damages, which includes doctor's notes, wage records, and eyewitness testimony.

Medical bills

Medical bills are often the first thing people consider when they are injured in a car crash. 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 ruling or settlement agreement. In the meantime, victims accumulate medical bills that have to be paid.

Car accident injuries often require extensive medical treatment including surgery and physical therapy. The resulting medical expenses are often quite expensive. It is essential for victims to be aware that they shouldn't be forced to shoulder the cost of their own medical bills after an accident, and that the driver at fault should be accountable for settling them as part of their accident settlement.

In some cases, the at-fault party will cover the medical bills of the victim directly. In certain cases, the victim’s health insurance policy or med-pay plan will pay these costs when they are accumulated. Based on the situation of the victim and the type of insurance coverage, these costs could also be covered under rolling claims.

In some cases hospitals or health insurance company may put a lien on a portion of the victim's eventual settlement. An experienced lawyer can negotiate these liens to bring more money into the pockets of the victim.

Loss of wages

A car accident can have a devastating effect on your financial situation. In addition to your medical costs and property damage you may have to pay for lost wages due to of your injuries. New York law requires that your car insurance policy reimburse you for lost income up to a maximum. Your lawyer will work with you to get the full amount you are entitled to for your lost income.

The most commonly used method to demonstrate lost earnings is to submit paychecks or other forms of wage documentation. If you were self-employed or worked on commission, other relevant documents include profit-and-loss statements, invoices, receipts, bank statements, and finance-related correspondence. It is also important to have correspondence from your employer that substantiates the number of days or hours you missed due to your injury.

If you suffer a permanent injury that restricts your capacity to work or prohibits you from working at all The lawyer can refer you to an expert economist or financial specialist to determine the future value of your earning potential. In this case the expert will look at your age, education level and training, credentials, career path, and job tasks you are no longer able to perform.

At Michaels Bersani Kalabanka, our Syracuse car accident lawyers frequently see clients who are severely injured in accidents and no longer work. Not only are they entitled to compensation for lost wages resulting from accidents that were not their responsibility, but they may also be able obtain additional compensation through the insurance of the driver or owner of the vehicle who was responsible.

Pain and suffering

After a crash, car victims of accidents should be compensated for their emotional stress and pain. But, since emotional stress and physical pain can't be captured in a photo or documented by x-rays insurance companies tend to deny these losses. It is essential to have an experienced personal injury lawyer to represent you when dealing with the insurer of the driver at fault.

Your Queens injury lawyer can help you gather all types of evidence to prove your claim for damages. For example, a victim's medical bills or written official diagnoses can be used to prove the severity of their injuries. A diary or a journal, which starts at the time of an accident and Auto Accident Lawsuit continues throughout the recovery process, can capture physical and emotional pain and distress.

The extent of your injury can also impact the amount of settlement you receive. For instance, a spinal cord injury or a severe brain trauma could result in a larger settlement than a minor concussion that resolved in three weeks.

The settlement you receive from your auto accident law firms accident will be impacted by the value of your injuries. Your lawyer will assist you determine your damages and develop an effective case to receive the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to. To find out more about the types of damages that can 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 financial losses. The amount of compensation awarded will depend on the severity and extent of the injuries suffered by the victim, as well as the amount of loss they have suffered because of their absence from work or property damage.

A verdict may also include non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. These damages aren't quantifiable. However, insurance companies employ a formula to determine much to pay for these kinds of damages. A multiplier, typically determined by medical expenses, is added to the quantifiable cost to determine the amount of settlement for non-economic damages. Permanent impairments and severe injuries generally result in higher awards than minor or temporary injuries.

A car crash is traumatizing and can change your life. The amount of a settlement will not erase these losses but it can assist victims to overcome their financial challenges and get back to normalcy.

An experienced car accident lawyer is able to evaluate your case and advocate for the highest possible settlement. Although it might be appealing to settle for less than what you are entitled to, this could hinder your future recovery. Once you sign a settlement agreement, it is understood that you are giving up the right to file additional claims or sue in court to recover any additional damages related to the accident.