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What You Get From an Auto Accident Settlement

The amount you receive from a settlement in a car accident will depend on the degree of your injuries. More severe injuries result in higher future and current medical expenses.

Documenting the losses will help you maximize your settlement. Lawyers can help you create a list of damages, including medical notes, wages records, and eyewitness testimony.

Medical bills

If someone is injured in a car accident medical bills are typically in the forefront of their minds. In the majority of personal injury cases, the law will cover the costs. However, it could take months or even years before the responsible driver is held accountable through a court decision or settlement agreement. In the meantime, victims accumulate medical bills that need to be paid.

Car accident injuries typically require extensive medical procedures like surgery and physical therapy. Medical expenses can be costly. It is essential that victims understand that they shouldn’t be required to pay their own medical expenses following an accident. Instead the driver at fault should be responsible for them as part their accident settlement.

In some cases the at-fault party can pay the victim’s medical expenses directly. In some cases, the victim’s health insurance coverage or med-pay will pay these expenses as they accumulate. In the case of a victim’s circumstance and the type of insurance coverage, these costs may be covered under rolling claims.

In some instances the hospital or health insurance company may make a lien against a portion of a settlement for a victim. auto accident lawyer livermore can negotiate these liens to put more money into the pockets of the victim.

Loss of wages

A car crash can have a devastating effect on your finances. It is also possible to pay the cost of lost earnings due to your injuries in addition to the cost of medical bills and property damage. New York law requires that the insurance company that covers your vehicle reimburse the loss of income up to a maximum. Your attorney will fight to secure the full amount of the lost earnings.

Paystubs and other documents for wages are the most commonly used method to prove that you lost money. If you were self-employed or worked on commissions, other relevant documents include profit and loss statements, receipts, invoices and bank statements, as well as finance-related correspondence. The correspondence from your employer that confirms the number of days/hours you were absent from work because of the injuries you sustained is also important.

If you suffer from a permanent injury which reduces or prevents your ability to earn the income you desire, your lawyer will seek out an economist or financial professional to assess your future earning potential. In this case, the expert will examine your age, education level and education, credentials, career path, and tasks that you are no more capable of performing.

At Michaels Bersani Kalabanka, our Syracuse car accident lawyers often meet with clients who are seriously injured in accidents and can not work. They are not limited to lost wages without fault, but may be able to receive additional compensation from the at-fault motorist’s or car owner’s insurance.

Pain and suffering

Following a collision, car crash victims must be paid for their emotional distress and pain. Insurance companies tend to overlook emotional pain and distress because they are not documented with photos or x-rays. This is why it is crucial to have a competent 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 instance, a victim’s medical bills and written formal diagnoses can establish the severity of their injuries. A journal or diary that begins at the time of the accident and lasts through recovery can also show symptoms of emotional distress and physical pain.

The degree of your injuries will also affect the amount you receive. A spinal cord injury or a serious head trauma, for instance could result in a greater settlement than a minor sprain that heals within three weeks.


The amount of your injuries are a critical aspect that will affect the settlement you receive for your auto accident. Your lawyer will assist you in calculating your damages and building an argument that is strong enough for you to receive the full compensation that you deserve. To find out more about the different types of damages that can be awarded in the course of a New York auto accident lawsuit, contact an experienced attorney.

Damages

As we’ve discussed previously settlement awards are intended to compensate victims of car accidents for financial losses. The amount awarded will be contingent on the severity of a victim’s injuries and the amount they’ve suffered due to missed work and property damage.

A verdict will also include non-economic damages such as suffering and pain. These damages are not easily quantifiable. However, insurance companies employ an equation to determine how they will be able to pay for these damages. To determine the amount of settlement for noneconomic damages, a multiplier is typically based on medical costs. Major injuries and permanent impairments are generally awarded higher settlements than minor injuries or temporary injuries.

A car crash is an experience that is traumatic and can change your life. Although a settlement will not erase these losses, it should give victims overcome their financial challenges and bring some order back to their lives.

A skilled car accident lawyer will know how to assess your case and advocate for the highest possible settlement. While it may be appealing to settle for less than what you deserve, this could impede your future recovery. You give up your right to sue or file additional claims for the accident once you sign the settlement agreement.