Each car accident that results in injury and property damage is unique. Because of this, it can be difficult to know if you’re receiving a fair offer for your injuries.
Several types of losses may be considered in a car accident settlement, including medical expenses, property damage, loss of wages, and non-economic losses. Continue reading to learn how to determine what is a reasonable settlement for a car accident.
You May Be Compensated for Medical Losses
Most car accident injury cases involve compensation for medical expenses. So, at the very least, a car accident settlement should cover your medical bills, including hospitalization, medications, therapy, adaptive equipment, surgeries, and any other treatment directly associated with your accident-related injury.
Ideally, you should wait until you’ve completed treatment to seek compensation for your medical expenses. If you settle before you’re done with your treatment, the insurance company may only cover the expenses you’ve racked up so far, which may leave you stuck paying for future medical bills related to the accident.
Income Loss May Be Included in Your Settlement
Income losses may include lost wages or loss of earning capacity. Some injuries take a long time to heal, taking you away from work for treatment, appointments, and therapy. If you’re missing work or taking your vacation time or sick leave to attend appointments, you’re losing wages that your settlement should cover. This also applies to situations in which you may be working part-time due to your injuries.
Loss of earning capacity is another type of lost income. Some injuries are permanent and may impact your ability to work the same job in the future. Depending on your job duties, your injury doesn’t even have to be catastrophic to impact your ability to perform those same job responsibilities. Furthermore, if you’ve been permanently disabled from a car accident, you may never be able to work again.
You May Be Able to Seek Compensation for Your Property Damage
Property damage is typically separate from a personal injury claim but may be included in a car accident compensation claim. Property damage may include vehicle damage or damage to possessions inside the vehicle at the time of the accident.
If your car has been damaged, you’re entitled to the cost of repairs. If your car has been totaled, you’re entitled to the value of your vehicle at the time of the accident. Your claim may also include any possessions that were damaged at the time of the accident, such as a phone or laptop that was in your vehicle or even an expensive pair of sunglasses.
The Long Brothers Are Here to Help You
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you’re likely worried about your compensation and receiving enough to cover all your expenses. The team at Long & Long, Attorneys at Law, is here to help. We treat all of our clients like family and do all we can for the local community. We’ll work hard to seek the compensation you deserve for your accident-related injuries and expenses. Call us at 251-432-2277 or fill out the online form to get your free case review!
