When you suffer injuries and property damage in a car accident, you may have a claim against the driver or other party responsible for causing the crash to recover compensation for your losses. However, various factors may affect the amount of money you can recover in a car accident claim.
Severity of Injuries
First, the severity of the injuries you sustain in a car accident will affect the value of your car accident claim. Severe injuries will require you to undergo longer, more intensive, and more expensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. Furthermore, severe injuries also have a higher risk of leaving you with prolonged or permanent disabilities that may require you to obtain long-term care, such as home health services or purchases of disability accommodations. Severe injuries also have a greater chance of causing you to miss work.
Medical Expenses and Treatment
The types of medical treatment you undergo for car accident injuries will affect the compensation you may recover in a legal claim. More intensive medical care, such as hospitalization or surgeries, can become expensive. You may also require long-term treatment, such as prescription medications or physical therapy, whose costs can add up over time.
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
When you need to take time off work due to your car accident injuries, the amount of income you miss out on during your recovery can affect the value of your car accident claim. Furthermore, when your injuries result in permanent disabilities that prevent you from returning to your job or earning as much as you did before the accident, compensation for your lost earning capacity can also determine how much money you recover in your claim.
Property Damage and Vehicle Repairs
The extent of your property and vehicle damage can affect your compensation in a car accident claim. You may have the right to seek financial recovery for damaged or destroyed personal property in your vehicle and for the costs of repairs to your vehicle. If the accident totals your car, you might instead recover compensation for its value. Finally, your compensation could include ancillary expenses incurred during your car’s repair, such as car rental fees.
Liability and Comparative Negligence
Liability for the car accident can affect the value of your car accident claim. For example, when multiple parties bear liability for the crash and your losses from your injuries and property damage, you may have a better chance of recovering maximum compensation for those losses. Conversely, your comparative negligence may affect your financial recovery in your car accident claim. Under the comparative negligence rules in many states, any share of fault you bear for the car accident can proportionally reduce your financial recovery in a car accident lawsuit.
Pain and Suffering/Emotional Distress
The amount of financial recovery you obtain for your physical pain and emotional distress after a car accident can significantly affect the value of your claim. In some cases, car accident victims can recover pain and suffering compensation worth several times the amount of their financial losses for medical bills, vehicle repairs, and lost income.
Insurance Coverage and Policy Limits
Finally, the availability of insurance coverage and coverage limits will influence your financial recovery in a car accident claim. For example, the types of coverage may determine what you can recover compensation for; applicable insurance coverages in car accidents include bodily injury liability coverage, property damage liability coverage, personal injury protection coverage, collision coverage, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney Today
After getting hurt in a car crash, hiring experienced legal counsel can help you maximize your financial recovery for your injuries and losses. Contact the Law Office of Jason Javie today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a car accident attorney to discuss how our firm can help you secure compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, vehicle repairs, and pain and suffering.