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What You Get From an Auto Accident Settlement

The amount you are awarded for an auto accident settlement is contingent on the extent of your injuries. Injuries that are more severe will result in larger current and future medical costs.

Documenting these losses can assist in maximizing your settlement. Your lawyer will be able to compile an inventory of all relevant damages that include doctors’ notes, wage documentation, and eyewitness testimony.

Medical bills

When someone is injured in a car crash medical bills are typically on their minds. Fortunately, the law typically covers these costs in personal injury cases. It can take a few months or in some cases years, before the at-fault driver is held liable through the court or settlement agreement, however. In the meantime, victims accumulate medical bills that need to be paid.


Injuries from car accidents typically require extensive medical treatment, including surgery and physical therapy. The medical bills that result can be quite high. It is important that victims know that they don’t be required to pay their own medical expenses following an accident. Instead the at-fault driver should be held accountable for these costs as part of the settlement agreement for the accident.

In certain instances, a person at fault is required to pay directly for the victim’s medical expenses. In certain instances the victim’s health insurance coverage or med-pay may cover these expenses when they become. In the case of a victim’s circumstance and type of insurance coverage, these bills may also be covered under rolling claims.

In some cases the hospital or health insurance provider will put a lien on a portion of the victim’s eventual settlement. Fortunately, an experienced lawyer can help negotiate these liens in order to increase the amount of money in the pockets of the victim.

Lost wages

A car crash can cause havoc to your finances. In addition to medical bills and property damage you could be required to pay for lost wages because of your injuries. New York law requires that the insurance company that covers your vehicle reimburse you for income loss up to a maximum. Your attorney will help you get the full amount you are entitled to for your lost wages.

The most common method used to show lost earnings is to provide paychecks or other forms of wage documentation. If you were self-employed or working on commission, other relevant documents include profit-and-loss statements receipts, invoices, bank statements, and other financial correspondence. A letter from your employer confirming the number of days/hours that you missed from work due to the injuries you sustained is also important.

If you suffer from a permanent injury which reduces or stops your earning capacity, your lawyer will consult an economist or financial professional to determine your future earning potential. In this instance the expert will analyze your age, education and education, credentials, career path, and tasks you are no longer competent to perform.

Our Syracuse car accident lawyers frequently represent clients who were severely injured in accidents and are in a position of being unable to work. They are not only entitled to no-fault lost wages however, they could also receive additional compensation from the at-fault driver’s or owner’s insurer.

Pain and suffering

Car accident victims deserve compensation for the emotional trauma and pain they feel following a collision. But, since emotional stress and physical pain cannot be documented in a photograph or documented with x-rays, insurance companies tend to discredit these losses. This is why it’s vital to have a competent personal injury lawyer in your corner when dealing with the insurance company of the driver who is at fault.

auto accident attorneys mount vernon can assist you gather evidence to support your claim. For example, a victim’s medical bills or written formal diagnoses can establish the severity of their injuries. A diary or journal that begins on the day of the accident and continues through recovery can also show symptoms of emotional distress and physical pain.

The severity of your injuries can also influence the amount of your settlement. For instance, a severe spinal cord injury or a severe brain trauma may result in a bigger settlement than a minor concussion that resolved in three weeks.

The amount of your injuries are a critical aspect that will affect the amount you receive from an auto accident settlement. Your lawyer will assist you calculate your damages and build a strong case to get the full amount you deserve. Contact a seasoned lawyer today to find out more about the different types of damages in the course of a New York car accident lawsuit.

Damages

As we’ve discussed earlier, settlement awards are intended to compensate victims of car accidents for their financial losses. The amount of compensation awarded will depend on the severity, and the extent of the victim’s injuries, as well as how much money they’ve lost as a result of work absence or property damage.

In addition, the award can also include non-economic damages, such as suffering and pain. Insurance companies use formulas to calculate the amount they will pay. These damages are hard to quantify, but they can be calculated. A multiplier, typically determined by medical expenses, is added to the quantifiable costs to calculate a settlement amount for non-economic damages. Injuries that are severe and permanent typically result in larger award amounts than minor or temporary injuries.

A car accident is a traumatic experience that can change your life. Although settlement won’t be enough to erase the loss, it could provide a compensation that helps a victim overcome their financial burdens and restore some normality to their lives.

A lawyer who has experience can evaluate your case and fight for an amount that is as high as is possible. Although it might be tempting to settle for a lower amount than what you’re entitled to this could affect your future recovery. When you sign a settlement agreement, you have given up the option to file additional claims or bring a lawsuit in court for any additional losses related to the accident.