One day, you’re driving to work when–BOOM! You’ve been hit by another vehicle.
Now you’re burdened with physical pain, medical expenses, and emotional suffering. We’re here to tell you that you deserve compensation for your damages.
And we can help.
We’ll assist you with filing a claim and fighting the at-fault party’s insurance company.
You may wonder, though, What is your car accident injury settlement worth? What’s a common settlement amount for a car accident? And how can you increase your settlement offer?
Continue reading this guide to learn everything you need to know about a car accident settlement offer.
Your first question might be, “What is an average car accident settlement amount?”
That’s a logical starting point, but the answer isn’t as clear. The truth is, each case is different, so it can be challenging to determine a typical car accident settlement.
As a basic rule of thumb, though—a higher settlement amount usually means that the accident and damages are catastrophic or result in death. Meanwhile, lower amounts typically denote a minor accident.
The amount the insurance company will offer you depends on various factors, perhaps the most significant being how severe your car accident injuries are. Other components include medical bills, lost wages, and any emotional damages you suffered.
Fault also plays a large part in settlement amounts. For example, if you were partially at fault for the accident, the insurance company may offer you a small settlement amount.
You can recover two main categories of damages after an accident: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include any monetary losses you suffered due to the car accident. This can include medical expenses, future medical care, and lost wages. For example, if you can’t work due to your injuries, you can recover compensation for the wages you lost.
Non-economic damages are burdens you experience that don’t have a monetary value assigned to them. Some examples of this include pain, emotional trauma, loss of quality of life, and inconvenience.
Your settlement offer should reflect both economic and non-economic losses you suffered due to the car accident.
Here are some steps you can take to maximize your offer.
If you’re able to, collect evidence from the accident scene. Take pictures and videos of your car, the other party’s car, and your injuries. Record what happened while it’s still fresh in your mind. If there are any witnesses, gather their contact information. Finally, make sure the police come and create an accident report, which you can use as evidence.
If you have evidence that proves your damages, your lawyer can use it to improve your car accident case and maximize your compensation amount.
Even if the accident was minor, it is essential to seek medical attention. Sometimes adrenaline masks injuries. Other times, injuries don’t show up for days or weeks after the crash. A doctor can examine you to determine the extent of your injuries. Also, going to the doctor provides you with a medical report that explains your damages.
Proving that you were injured due to the accident acts as critical evidence. You can use this proof to increase your settlement offer.
The best way to make sure you get the compensation you deserve is to talk to a car accident attorney. Personal injury lawyers are your legal advocates and will fight to ensure the insurance company pays out. They will collect evidence, file a car accident claim, and talk to the insurance company for you.
If the insurance company suggests an unsatisfactory offer, your lawyer will try to negotiate a higher amount. And in the event that the insurance company refuses to give you the compensation you need, your lawyer will help you file a personal injury lawsuit and represent you in court.
Meanwhile, here are some actions you should avoid to improve your car accident settlement offer:
Most car accident claims can be overwhelming. All you want to do is recover and return to a normal life, but now you have to worry about fighting the insurance company only to get an insulting settlement offer.
At DP Injury Attorneys, we will handle the work for you. It angers and saddens us that so many car accident victims don’t get the compensation they deserve. So we’re here to maximize your car accident settlement offer while you focus on recovery. Don’t take less than what you deserve. Call a car accident lawyer instead.
If you or someone you know has been in a car accident recently, call DP Injury Attorneys. We will stand by your side and fight for your rights.
Contact us today to schedule a free case review.
Arthur Paul D’Egidio is the Managing Partner of DP Injury Attorneys, a San Diego personal injury law firm. With more than 12 years of experience in California injury law, he has dedicated his practice to representing clients in a wide range of personal injury matters, including car accidents, workers’ compensation, slip and falls, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death cases.
Arthur received his Juris Doctor from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law and is a member of the State Bar of California as well as the San Diego County Bar Association. He has received numerous accolades for his work, including being named a Super Lawyer for seven straight years by Thomson Reuters and a “Top 40 Under 40” by the National Trial Lawyers.
