Don't take our word for it, you can do the research for yourself, and find that accident victims are more than likely to get a settlement 3 to 4 times the amount if they use an Attorney to negotiates for them. The facts are plain and simple. Click Here to see the data.
When you get into a car accident, the opposing insurance company is already building a case against you (even if their clients was at fault) so they don't have to pay you what you deserve. They will create a case where they will pay you the lowest amount for your pain and suffering, for your medical bills, and the lowest amount to repair your car; and if they get their way, they will even have your car repaired at the repair shop that they want the work done at. Does that seem fair? Of course it's not!
Don't accept a settlement that benefits the people (and the insurance company) that hit you. Get an attorney that will fight for you and get you the best settlement possible.
This is probably your first car accident, and most people have no idea how to read a police accident report. Don't worry, you are not alone, we are here to help in simple terms that you can understand.
Your first step is to speak with us so we can help you come up with a plan to get the results you need. Our understanding of the law and how the insurance companies work, we will help you find the best plan to help you get the settlement you deserve.
Don't wait, because the insurance company is already figuring out how to pay you less! The sooner you have a plan of action, the better your chances are for the highest settlement possible.
Due to the various factors that affect compensation, it’s difficult to determine exactly how much money you’ll receive in a car accident settlement. The payouts after car accidents range from a few hundred dollars for minor vehicle repairs to millions after severe injuries and fatalities.
According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), the typical car accident settlement amount for bodily injury was $15,785 and the average compensation for property damage was $3,841 in 2018.
Whenever you receive compensation in a lawsuit, the settlement amount varies greatly based on damages and your situation. As a rule of thumb, the money you receive should be equal to the total amount the accident will cost you. A typical car accident settlement amount will largely be based on the following factors:
This is a broad term that covers any financial losses you may have suffered due to the auto accident. It can include money you lost from your vehicle being damaged or totaled, medical expenses you had to pay to treat injuries from the accident, or even wages you lost out on because you had to miss work due to the accident.
In general, walking away from a car accident with a few bruises or minor whiplash will result in a much lower claim than being hospitalized with severe injuries. However, injuries aren’t always physical. In the legal world, personal damages typically fall under two categories:
Every state makes its own car accident laws, so the typical car accident settlement amounts vary depending on where you live. If you’re affected by an auto accident in an at-fault state, you can make a personal-injury claim even if you suffered only minor injuries or property damage. For this reason, there are more car accident lawsuits filed in at-fault states than in no-fault states.
There are 12 no-fault states:
If it’s easy to prove you didn’t cause the car crash, expect to be granted fair compensation. However, the typical car accident settlement amount could be reduced if there’s any room for debate over who’s the at-fault driver. If there’s no obvious negligence concerning either motorist, you may have to head to court to settle the car accident claim.
Some auto insurance companies have policy limits that can affect the typical car accident settlement amount. If one of the people involved in the crash doesn’t carry car insurance, they could face penalties even if they’re not at fault for the accident.
Trying to calculate how much money to ask for in a car accident settlement is as simple as adding up all of the amounts from the applicable factors discussed above. Below are a few factors to always include when considering the typical car accident settlement amount for your situation:
After adding up the factors above, you’ll have a reasonably accurate starting point for how much money you could receive from a car accident.
Ideally, the typical car accident settlement amounts would always account for the damage, pain, and suffering caused by the crash. However, these factors can often be hard to prove in court. Here are four steps to take to maximize your car accident settlement:
It may be extremely difficult to collect evidence after a car accident, but any evidence will help when you file an insurance claim or attempt to show the court you deserve compensation. If there were eyewitnesses at the scene, exchange information with them so they can provide statements later on.
Even if your injuries aren’t severe, you should get checked out by a doctor or psychologist following your car accident. That way, any type of injury or mental suffering will be documented and verified by a medical professional.
It’s better to file your car accident claim as soon as possible, especially when injuries are involved. A simple reason is that you could receive your compensation sooner if you file early.
Moreover, you’ll need that compensation as soon as possible if you’re facing mounting bills resulting from the accident. Each state has its own time limit for filing a car accident claim, called the statute of limitations. The typical time limit is three years, but it ranges from one to six years depending on the state.
Don’t accept a car accident settlement offer if you think the offer is too low. Revisit the formula for how to calculate the typical car accident settlement amount and stand firm in fighting for what you can prove would be fair compensation. If you aren’t getting anywhere fighting on your own, you may want to consider finding legal help.
There’s no exact time frame for the length of car accident settlements. It generally takes anywhere from a couple weeks to several months or years for a car accident case to be settled.
The amount of time it takes to determine the typical car accident settlement amount often depends on the severity of the collision and the requested compensation. The larger the damages, the more time you could take fighting for a fair payout.
Many people believe hiring a car-accident attorney is an easy way to ensure they'll be fairly compensated for their personal-injury case. While it's nice to have an expert advocating for you in the case of serious injury, data shows it doesn’t guarantee a higher settlement payout.
A 2014 study from the Insurance Research Council (IRC) showed that car accident injury claimants who hired attorneys received lower net payments on average than those who never hired them. However, a 2018 study by the IRC found that attorney involvement led to higher utilization rates for post-accident treatment, specifically for physical therapy, chiropractor visits, and expensive procedures such as MRIs and CT scans.
Most personal-injury lawyers offer free consultations and case evaluation for those involved in car accidents, so it can't hurt to reach out to discuss your options. Additionally, there are several reasons you may want to reach out to a law firm following a car accident:
Whether you hire an attorney is up to you. While an attorney may be able to fight for a bigger personal-injury settlement after your car accident, legal fees may mean you won’t net a bigger net payout than you would if you represented yourself. Still have questions, contact us!