If you are injured in a car accident, you may be wondering how much your case is worth. Our Treasure Coast injury attorneys share how to calculate the value of your settlement.
The aftermath of a car accident can be devastating—especially when it comes to money. Your may need to repair or replace your vehicle. You likely have expensive medical bills and could even need lifelong care. And for some, your accident may have caused you to miss weeks or months of work.
The bottom line is that car accidents can be very expensive. If you are injured in a car accident that was not your fault, you are entitled to compensation to pay for your vehicle damages and medical expenses.
In this article, our Treasure Coast injury attorneys discuss the factors that impact car accident settlement amounts and how you can estimate the value of your claim.
Disclaimer: There is no way to know the value of your car accident settlement without consulting an experienced injury attorney. If you have questions about your accident, schedule a free consultation with our injury attorneys now by calling 866-930-6435.
What is the average settlement amount for a car accident case?
In the United States, the average settlement amount for a car accident case is $20,000. However, this number tells you nothing about how much money your case is worth. Every case is different. For example, our firm has recovered multi-million dollar settlements and we’ve settled cases for less than $20,000.
How to calculate the value of your case
Car accident settlements cover the losses a crash victim experiences. Typical car accident settlement amounts are based on:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
However, you must consider the unique facts of your case. See below.
Factors that influence the value of an accident claim
Several factors influence the value of individual car accident settlements, including:
- Insurance coverage – In Florida, the at-fault driver’s insurance will pay compensation to the accident victim. However, the insurer only pays up to the policy limits. This means the insurance company does not have to pay for damages that exceed this limit. If the at-fault party doesn’t have any insurance (which 20% of drivers don’t), you may not be able to pursue any compensation for your accident. Learn more here.
- Liability – If liability is clear in your accident, you may receive a larger settlement. This is because the at-fault party’s insurance will not dispute your claim and will likely provide a reasonable settlement offer. However, if liability is not 100% clear, you may not be entitled to as much. If fault is shared by multiple drivers, you may have to take some responsibility for the accident and accept a lower settlement amount.
- Severity of injuries – Severity of injury is a major factor determining typical car accident settlement amounts. If you must have hospital care, surgeries, physical therapy, and other expensive medical procedures, the value of your case will be higher.
- Florida law – Florida is a no-fault state, which means drivers must first rely on their own insurance coverage to pay for their own injuries. Once you exhaust your own coverage, then you can pursue compensation from the other driver’s insurance. In Florida, drivers must have personal injury protection (PIP), which typically coverages up to $10,000 in medical bills and lost wages. For minor injuries, this amount tends to be okay. But for serious injuries, you will likely exceed that amount.
- Financial loss – Finally, you must also consider how the accident has led to financial loss. This is often in the form of lost wages from work. For example, if you are injured in a motorcycle accident and no longer able to go to work as a construction worker, you may be entitled to more compensation.
Find out how much your car accident settlement is worth
Call 866-930-6435 now
If you are injured in a car accident in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach or Okeechobee, and you are worried about how you will pay for your medical bills and car repairs, call us right away. Our experienced injury attorneys have recovered more than $500 million in settlements for our Treasure Coast clients.
We are an experienced, local law firm dedicated to serving members of our community. Our attorneys are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer any questions you may have. If you want to know how much your car accident case is worth, or if you are unsure of what to do after an accident, call us right away. We are here to help you.
We have offices in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach and Okeechobee. Plus, we offer free case reviews and do not charge you anything unless we win your case.
Call 866-930-6435 to speak to our experienced injury attorneys now.