Car Accident Lawyers
How Do I Calculate Compensation for My Car Accident Claim?
If you have suffered a car accident injury that was not your fault, calculating what is fair compensation is vital towards addressing your medical bills, loss of work, pain and suffering, along with the damage done to your vehicle. Unfortunately, too many people rely on the insurance adjuster to provide the necessary figures. You need a car accident personal injury attorney that will provide the best representation when calculating what is fair compensation.
At The Injury Firm, our auto accident attorneys handle car accident injury claims for those living in the greater Fort Lauderdale area. Our auto accident attorneys provide you with all the information and guidance needed to understand fair compensation for the injuries that you have suffered. Plus, we provide you with expert guidance and proper representation to ensure that you get all that the law allows in such cases.
How to Calculate Your Injury and Damages From a Car Accident
Everyone is different which means that the impact of an injury goes considerably beyond the initial medical treatment. Insurance companies will break down the damages suffered into two categories. This is important if you want to understand how the process for calculating the effects of your injury and subsequent damages will be.
Economic: Sometimes called special damages, this is the amount of money that you stand to lose because of the injuries that you have received.
- Medical Bills: Treatment, therapy, and nursing care
- Lost Wages: Both current and future
- Replacement: Having to pay for childcare, yard work, housekeeping, and the like
- Out-of-Pocket: Expenses that include medication, crutches, and transportation fees
There are also specific damages to your vehicle, property, and any personal items that were damaged, destroyed, or lost in the accident.
Consider that your medical bills may be more extensive than you might imagine. This is because of the need for tests such as those performed by X-Rays, CT Scans, MRIs, and the like. You may find yourself facing several bills due to the different tests that are required. In addition, there are services that are considered separate even if they occur in the same building. For example, if you were transported by emergency services, you may face a bill from them along with one from the hospital.
General: Or non-economic damages, these are the losses that are less tangible, but no less real. They include the pain, suffering, and emotional trauma that the injury will inflict upon your life from now on.
Such damages include pain and suffering, but they are not limited to just that. What you undergo may be far different than someone else even if you sustained similar injuries. This is because everyone reacts differently which means that one person might have different challenges that are more or less affected by the type of injury that they receive. Such general damages include, but are not limited to the following;
- Aches & Pains
- Emotional Distress
- Anxiety & Depression
- Lack of Concentration
- Insomnia
This is just a partial list, but you should be evaluated by a physician to better identify the specific injuries that you have suffered. When it comes to calculating the financial impact, this is where the insurance companies will usually come into play.
Mild, Moderate, and Severe Injuries From a Car Accident
Another factor in terms of the financial support that you may receive is based on the severity of the injuries themselves. For the most part, very mild injuries such as bumps, scrapes, and cuts that do not require more than a few band-aids may not be counted. However, the emotional impact of the accident itself may come into play.
For more serious injuries, there are a few that may require substantial compensation for treatment which may include the following:
Permanent Injuries: In some cases, the injuries suffered may be permanent in nature such as amputation, paralysis, or not retaining full use or control of an appendage or limb.
Persistent or Chronic Pain: Complex injuries or pervasive procedures used to treat such injuries may create long-term or chronic pain. Such pain may be with you for weeks, months, or even years. In some cases, the pain may never fully go away.
Mental Anguish: While almost all accidents and injuries mean experiencing some type of mental anguish, this is serious enough to seek professional help.
Tragic Events: Sometimes, the very nature of the event that causes the injuries can cause further damage. Injuries that were caused by a dramatic crash or being trapped for example can amplify the mental anguish.
Calculating the Compensation From Car Accident
You take all the financial factors involved with the injuries you have received both in terms of the present-day and what lies in the future. While many insurance companies offer a computerized personal injury calculator, they are not all-inclusive. They often give results that are far below what is required for your care today and tomorrow.
Depending on the nature of your injuries, you should go beyond the calculators provided by insurance companies. You will need assistance from those who are knowledgeable and experienced with personal injury cases.
Proper Legal Representation for a Car Accident Claim
If you have suffered injuries that were the fault of someone else, you should not expect the insurance company to make the same calculation of financial need that you have made. The goal of insurance companies as with any company is to maintain a profit. This means paying out as little as possible, which is why many such companies will make a quick offer for you to sign.
If you have suffered a car accident injury, you need to turn to auto accident lawyers at The Injury Firm in Fort Lauderdale. They are your personal injury attorney, providing the proper guidance all while protecting your rights. This means getting what you deserve in terms of payment for medical bills, pain and suffering, and all the due compensation from being the victim of an accident.
So, if you find yourself injured in a car accident that is someone else’s fault, get the proper treatment first and then call The Injury Firm. Our friendly, courteous auto accident attorneys and staff staff are here to help, so please give us a call today for a free consultation: 954-951-0000.