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What You Get From an Auto Accident Settlement

The amount you receive for a car accident settlement depends on the degree of your injuries. Medical bills are more expensive for injuries that are more severe.

Documenting your losses can help maximize your settlement. auto accident lawyer palmdale can create an inventory of damages, including doctor’s notes wage records, and eyewitness testimonies.

Medical bills

If someone is injured in a car crash medical bills are often on their minds. Fortunately, the law typically covers these costs in personal injury cases. However, it can take months or even years before the at-fault motorist is held accountable through a court decision or settlement agreement. In the meantime, victims accrue medical bills that must be paid.

Injuries from car accidents typically require extensive medical treatment, including surgery and physical therapy. The associated medical costs can be quite high. It is crucial that victims are aware that they shouldn’t have to pay the medical bills themselves following the crash. Instead the at-fault driver is responsible for these as part of their settlement.

In some cases, a person at fault is required to pay directly for medical expenses of the victim. In other cases, the victim’s health insurance plan or med-pay insurance will cover these costs as they accumulate. Based on the individual’s situation and the type of insurance coverage, these bills could also be covered under rolling claims.

In certain situations, a hospital or health insurance provider may make a lien against a portion of a settlement made by a victim. Fortunately, an experienced attorney can assist in negotiating these liens in order to put more money in the victim’s pocket.

Lost wages

A car accident can create havoc on your finances. In addition to medical bills and property damage you may be required to pay for lost wages because of your injuries. New York law requires that your insurance policy for cars reimburse you for the loss of income, up to a maximum. Your lawyer will fight to get you the full amount of the lost earnings.


Paystubs and other documents for wages are the most common way to prove the loss of income. Other documents that are relevant include bank statements, invoices, and correspondence if you were self-employed. It is also crucial to have a letter from your employer, which confirms the number of hours or days you missed due to your injury.

If you suffer from a permanent injury which reduces or prevents your earning capacity your salary, your lawyer will consult an economist or financial advisor to determine your earning potential. In this scenario the expert will look at your age, education level, qualifications, training and career progression, as well as the job duties you are unable to not perform anymore.

Our Syracuse car accident lawyers typically represent clients who were seriously injured in accidents and are disabled from working. They are not limited to a no-fault loss of wages, but may be able to get additional compensation from the at-fault driver/car owner’s insurance.

Pain and suffering

Car accident victims deserve compensation for the emotional distress and pain they suffer after a collision. However, because emotional pain and physical pain cannot be documented in a photograph or documented using x-rays, insurance companies tend to discredit these losses. It is important to have a seasoned personal injury lawyer on your side in dealing with the insurer of the driver responsible for the accident.

Your Queens injury lawyer can assist you in gathering evidence of all kinds to support your claim for damages. Medical bills and official diagnosis, for example, can be used to demonstrate the severity of victim’s injuries. A diary or journal that begins on the date of the accident and lasts throughout recovery may also record symptoms of emotional distress and physical pain.

The extent of your injuries could affect the amount you receive. A spinal cord injury, or a severe head trauma, as an example, may result in a larger amount than a minor sprain which heals in 3 weeks.

Your settlement for an auto accident will be impacted by the value of your injuries. Your lawyer will assist in the calculation of your damages and in building an argument that is strong enough for you to get the full amount of compensation that you deserve. To learn more about the kinds of damages that could be awarded in a New York auto accident lawsuit get in touch with an experienced attorney.

Damages

As we’ve already discussed settlement awards are designed to pay victims of car accidents for financial losses. The amount awarded will be contingent on the severity of a person’s injuries and how much they have lost due to the absence from work and property damage.

A verdict will also include non-economic damages such as suffering and pain. Insurance companies employ an algorithm to calculate the amount they are required to pay. These damages are difficult to quantify but they are able to be calculated. A multiplier, typically based on medical expenses, is added to the quantifiable expenses to calculate a settlement amount for non-economic damages. Serious injuries and permanent impairments generally result in higher awards than minor or temporary injuries.

A car crash is a devastating event and the financial losses that come with it could be life-altering. The amount of a settlement won’t cover these losses, but it can help victims overcome their financial challenges and get back to normalcy.

A lawyer who has experience is able to assess your case and fight for a settlement that is as likely to be as high as it can be. While it can be tempting to settle for a lower amount than you’re entitled to this could affect your future recovery. You waive your right to file a lawsuit or other claims related to the accident after you sign the settlement agreement.