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What You Get From an Auto Accident Settlement

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

Documenting your losses will increase your settlement. Your lawyer can prepare a list of damages including doctor’s notes wage records, and eyewitness testimony.


Medical bills

If someone is injured in a car accident medical bills are often at the forefront of their minds. Fortunately, the law typically covers these expenses in personal injury cases. However, it can take months or even years before the motorist at fault is held responsible by an agreement with a judge or a settlement agreement. In the meantime, victims accumulate medical bills that must be paid.

Car accident injuries usually require extensive medical treatment, including surgery and physical therapy. The resulting medical expenses can be quite high. It is vital that the victims are aware that they shouldn’t have to pay their own medical expenses following a crash. Instead the at-fault driver should be responsible for them as part their accident settlement.

In certain cases the at-fault party may pay the victim’s medical bills directly. In certain instances, the victim’s health insurance or med-pay will pay for these costs as they get accumulated. These expenses can be covered by rolling claims depending on the coverage of the victim’s insurance and specific circumstances.

In certain cases, the hospital or health insurance provider might make a lien on a portion of the victim’s final settlement. An experienced attorney can negotiate these liens in order to put more money in the pockets of the victim.

Lost wages

A car accident can cause havoc to your financial situation. You could also be required to pay the cost of lost earnings due to your injuries, in addition to medical bills and property damages. New York law requires that your car insurance policy compensate you for the loss of income, up to a certain amount. Your attorney will help you receive the full amount you deserve for your missed income.

Paystubs or other forms of documentation for wages are the most commonly used method to prove the loss of income. If you were self-employed or on commission, other relevant documents include profit-and-loss statements, receipts, invoices and bank statements, and financial correspondence. It is also important to have an official letter from your employer, which confirms the number of days or hours you missed because of your injury.

If you suffer a permanent injury that limits your capability to work, or even prevents you from working, your lawyer may consult an expert economist or financial expert to determine the value of your earning potential. In this instance the expert will analyze your age, education level and qualifications, training, career path, and job tasks that you are no more competent to perform.

At Michaels Bersani Kalabanka, our Syracuse car accident lawyers frequently meet with clients who are seriously injured in accidents and not work. Not only are they entitled to compensation for lost wages due to accidents that were not their negligence, but they could also be eligible for additional compensation from 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. However, because auto accident lawyer las cruces as well as physical pain cannot be captured in a photograph or documented with x-rays, insurance companies often deny these losses. It is essential to have a seasoned personal injury lawyer to represent you when dealing with the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident.

Your Queens injury lawyer can assist you with gathering all types of evidence to prove your claim for damages. For example, a victim’s medical bills as well as written official diagnoses can be used to prove the severity of their injuries. A journal or diary that starts on the date of the accident and lasts throughout recovery can also capture signs of emotional distress and physical pain.

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

The amount you pay for your auto accident will be impacted by the amount of your injuries. Your lawyer will help determine the extent of your injuries and build a strong case to get the full amount of compensation you deserve. Contact an experienced lawyer today to find out more about the different types of damages awarded in the event of a New York car accident lawsuit.

Damages

As we’ve discussed earlier settlement awards are meant to compensate car accident victims for financial losses. The amount of compensation will depend on the severity and degree of the injuries sustained by the victim and also the amount of money they have lost because of work absence or property damage.

In addition, an award could also include other damages that are not economic, like suffering and pain. These damages are not easily quantifiable. However, insurance companies employ a formula to determine much they should pay for these damages. A multiplier, typically determined by medical expenses, is added to the quantifiable cost to determine the amount of settlement for non-economic damages. Serious injuries and permanent impairments typically result in higher settlement amounts than injuries that are minor or temporary.

A car accident can be an incredibly stressful experience that could alter your life. The amount of settlement won’t erase these losses but it can help victims overcome their financial burdens and return to normalcy.

A lawyer who has experience can evaluate your case and advocate for a settlement that is as high as possible. While it can be tempting to settle for a lesser settlement than you deserve this could affect your future recovery. When you sign a settlement agreement, it is understood that you give up the option to file additional claims or pursue court action for any additional losses related to the accident.