The amount that you can expect from your car accident settlement will depend upon the facts and circumstances of your car accident. Generally, when another person’s negligence causes an accident that injuries you, you are entitled to compensation for your losses.

The amount you recover will depend upon the medical costs associated with your injuries, the cost to repair or replace any damaged property, the impact your injuries have on your ability to work, and other factors.​

In this article, we’ll explore the factors that influence your car accident settlement amount and how a local car accident attorney can help you measure them and then collect compensation for them.

If you were in an accident, the best way to accurately determine what you should receive in your car accident settlement is to work with a local car accident attorney. ​

The Extent of Your Injuries and other Losses Determines Settlement Amount

There is no set amount that a car accident claim is worth. Instead, the unique facts and circumstances surrounding your accident will determine the damages and compensation available to you. Car accident compensation typically includes medical expenses, lost income, property damage, physical and emotional pain and suffering, and other accident-related losses.​

Medical Expenses Include Short-Term Bills and Long-Term Treatments

The amount you are entitled to for your medical costs includes your short-term bills like the emergency room and your long-term medical costs like treatment, medications, and any ongoing rehabilitation that your injuries might require. Some injuries may not seem severe immediately after your accident but may become chronic medical issues.

If you accept a settlement that only covers your short-term bills, you and your family will be left paying bills in the future. You should not have uncovered expenses, and an attorney will identify all of your losses and determine what your case is worth. With this knowledge, you can accurately assess whether a settlement offer is adequate.​

You May Obtain Damages for Pain and Suffering​

In some cases, injuries can also result in damages for physical and emotional pain and suffering. For example, if you experienced a burn injury in your motor vehicle accident and suffered disfiguring injuries, the law entitles you to compensation for the pain you experienced.

Furthermore, when a person experiences a change to their appearance due to an injury, the experience can cause long-term mental health issues and change how they live. Issues like these entitle you to damages, and your experienced, local car accident attorney knows how to value these claims and add them into your compensation. ​

Lost Income Includes Short-Term Lost Wages and Long-Term Lost Earning Ability

Personal injury law entitles victims to damages for both their immediate lost income and future lost earnings. If your injuries prevent you from returning to work or from returning to a job that pays as well as before your injury, the law entitles you to compensation for your injury throughout what should have been your working life.

Calculating this amount usually requires that an occupational expert assess your medical condition and symptoms to determine how they will impact your ability to work. An experienced car accident attorney will have a local network of experts who can accurately measure the impact of your injuries on your ability to work. ​

Motor vehicle collisions often cause traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), such as concussions. Even a concussion can significantly impact your ability to concentrate, focus, and work. More serious TBIs can often leave victims with long-term problems that may prevent them from earning a living or even living independently.

Suppose you accept a settlement before accurately calculating the impact of your injuries on your ability to work in the long term. In that case, you can miss out on the compensation you need to support yourself and your family in the future.​

Remember, the Insurance Company Will Try to Settle Your Case for Less Than You Need

Despite their catchy slogans, insurance companies invariably try to settle cases for less than they are worth. For this reason, you should never trust the insurance company’s valuation of your claim. Never accept a settlement offer without discussing your case with an experienced attorney.

The insurance company is not on your side, and asking them whether their first offer is sufficient is like asking an eight-year-old if they want a puppy. The answer will be yes, even if it is not in your best interest to do so.​

Insurance companies are more than happy to take advantage of unrepresented victims.

Some of the ways they may try and get you to settle for less than your case is worth include:​

• Making an unreasonably low initial offer
• Not accurately explaining your legal rights
• Pressuring you to provide a recorded statement
• Waiting until your bills are piling up to make an offer​

Thankfully, an attorney that works with car accident victims can protect your rights and ensure that the insurance company treats you fairly. Call a lawyer near you today to get started on your case.​

Connect With a Local Car Accident Attorney Today

The sooner you connect with a local car accident attorney for a risk-free assessment of your case, the sooner you know whether you have a case. If you have a case and a car accident attorney takes it, you can sit back and allow them to handle every step of the process, allowing you to focus on your physical and emotional recovery.​

While you might worry that you cannot afford a car accident attorney, that is not the case. If a car accident attorney takes your case, you will have no up-front costs and out-of-pocket expenses. Car accident attorneys typically take cases on contingency, which means that your attorney only gets paid if they win your case. In addition, any legal fees your lawyer takes will be a percentage of any settlement or award you receive.​

Reach out to a local car accident attorney for a risk-free assessment of your car accident to start collecting what you deserve.