As an injured person in a car crash, you’ll typically have many questions on your mind. Should you call your Riverdale auto accident attorney? What are your chances of recovering fully from your injuries? How much should you expect as an average settlement for a personal injury claim?
The answer to the first question is “yes.” A personal injury lawyer is an indispensable part of the claims process and can increase your chances of fair compensation. The answer to the second question depends on numerous factors like the severity and type of injury. Your chances of full recovery also hinge on how quickly you received medical attention.
Unfortunately, the third question is an even harder nut to crack. First, your compensation amounts depend on your injury severity, an abundance of evidence, the judge’s discretion, etc. However, we’ll attempt to share an average car accident settlement sum in this article.
What Factors Affect the Value of My Riverdale Motor Vehicle Collision Claim?
These are the factors that personal injury lawyers and insurance companies consider in determining settlement sums:
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The Severity of the Accident
You can usually tell the extent of damage after a crash by merely looking at the scene. For example, was it a fender bender, how forceful was the impact, and how many vehicles were involved? Generally, the more severe an accident is, the more likely you’ll suffer severe injuries and property damage. This also means your probability of maximum compensation will be high in such cases.
However, be careful when measuring your settlement claim by this parameter. Sometimes, fender benders can cause severe injuries, while severe crashes may not cause that much damage. So you’ll still have to consider the severity of your injuries and other factors.
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Injury Severity
The severity of your injuries is the single most essential factor in determining your auto claim settlement amount. When discussing injury severity, we consider the type of injury, how long you’ll take to recover, the location of the wound, etc.
Generally, some injuries require more compensation than others. For example, whiplashes are typically considered minor injuries, while spinal cord injuries are catastrophic. As such, a spinal cord injury victim will need more compensation than someone with a whiplash injury.
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The Type of Treatment You Received
The kind of medical procedures you receive can determine your damages. For example, chiropractic care will usually receive less compensation than major surgery. Did you need to take injections? were you hospitalized, and did you undergo physical therapy? These are important in valuing your accident claim.
Medical care is essential in getting maximum compensation, so don’t neglect to visit your doctor after a crash. Also, note that ignoring a hospital visit after a collision injury does nothing to help your case. Even if you’re in excruciating pain, you’ll not receive fair damages without medical treatment.
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How Quickly You Sought Treatment
More than just visiting the hospital, it also matters how quickly you did. If you unreasonably delayed seeing a medical professional, the insurance company may allege that you didn’t suffer severe injuries.
A Riversdale auto accident attorney will always advise you to seek medical attention immediately, even if you don’t feel hurt. Apart from helping your claim, this action can save your life. Often, accident victims with internal injuries don’t feel the symptoms until much later, when it’s too late. In such cases, visiting a doctor in time will lead to early diagnosis and treatment.
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Medical Expenses and Lost Wages
You’re entitled to receive full reimbursement for your medical bills following an accident injury. Therefore, the higher your medical costs, the more compensation you’ll receive.
Your damages also depend on whether you lost wages due to your inability to work. If you did, the insurance company would bear liability for them. They’ll also cover your future lost earnings.
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Available Insurance Amount
In Georgia, every motorist must carry auto liability insurance of at least $25,000. However, they may decide to pay for higher coverage. If the at-fault driver in your case holds the minimum insurance coverage, you wouldn’t be able to claim more than $25,000 as compensation.
You may have to file an injury claim with your underinsured motorist insurance company in cases like this.
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Abundance of Proof
Like with every other civil claim, your compensation depends on what you can prove. For example, if you spent $10,000 on medical treatment, you must produce a receipt to back your claims up.
Without such evidence, you’ll have a challenging time getting reimbursement for medical costs. Other helpful evidence in car accident claims includes police reports, medical reports, eyewitness testimonies, etc.
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Pain and Suffering
Whether or not you receive pain and suffering damages will influence your compensation amount. Pain and suffering compensation covers the emotional and psychological stress you suffer from physical injuries.
They include depression, PTSD, loss of quality of life, loss of enjoyment of life, mental anguish, etc.
What’s the Average Settlement for Auto Crash Injury Claims?
According to the Insurance Information Institute’s auto insurance facts and statistics, the average compensation for bodily injuries is $18,417. Meanwhile, property damage compensation in car accident claims is $4,525.
To be sure of your case’s compensation sum, visit your personal injury lawyer for a rough estimate. Generally, however, your claim should be worth the following depending on your injury type and severity:
- Broken bones and fractures — $15,000 to $100,000
- Knee/shoulder injury — $30,000 to $100,000 and above
- Mild to moderate concussion — $20,000 to $30,000
- Moderate neck or back injury — $30,000 to $100,000
- Severe back or neck injury — $100,000 and above
- Spinal cord injury/paralysis — $1,000,000 and above
- Traumatic brain injury — $100,000 and above
- Whiplash/minor soft-tissue injuries — $2,500 to $20,000
How Much Will I Pay My Riverdale Auto Accident Attorney?
First, note that many personal injury attorneys in Riverdale work on a contingency fee arrangement. This means that you wouldn’t foot legal fees until you win your case. If you don’t win, you won’t pay anything.
Before your case commences, you and your lawyer will agree on what percentage of your compensation will go for professional fees. This fee is usually between 33.3% to 40%.
Talk to a Riverdale Auto Accident Attorney for Free Now!
One of the first steps to getting fair compensation for your car accident injuries is determining your case’s worth. This can be challenging as many factors determine your settlement. However, this shouldn’t be a problem with an experienced personal injury attorney’s help.
At Humphrey and Ballard Law, we’ll schedule a free consultation to assess your claim’s value. Then, we’ll offer you top-notch legal services to ensure a speedy and successful claims process. So give us a call to speak with a Riverdale injury attorney and get started on your claim.
