Car accident settlements are determined by your losses, known as “damages.” Economic damages include medical care expenses and property damages; non-economic damages refer more directly to pain and suffering.

An attorney can help you demonstrate the extent of your losses to ensure the insurance provider pays out what it owes you.

The Insurance Company

Once you file a claim with an insurance company, an adjuster will be assigned to investigate and value your damages. Once they make their initial offer, your lawyer can evaluate it and advise whether to accept or decline. Furthermore, their involvement will protect you from negotiation traps.

Insurance companies are profit-oriented businesses and will do everything in their power to reduce any payouts. When reading through a demand letter they’ll look for ways they can decrease its total cost and reduce any amounts that have been requested by you.

An economic settlement award usually includes both economic and non-economic damages, with economic damages comprising medical bills and property damage being quantifiable expenses, while non-economic ones include pain and suffering, lost quality of life and emotional distress – your attorney can assist in valuing these intangible losses; they will also know whether punitive damages exist to punish those responsible for your injuries for their reckless disregard for public safety.

Mediation

Every case varies; therefore it is impossible to provide an average settlement amount for car accidents. A good lawyer can ensure you receive all of the compensation that is owed to you from your accident.

Mediation allows both parties to meet with representatives from their insurance company and discuss your case before an impartial mediator, who will listen to both perspectives of your story. Your lawyer can accompany you and negotiate on your behalf at this meeting.

Your settlement depends on several factors: medical treatment costs, lost work days and their effect on quality of life. Insurance companies will try to get you to accept an low offer; but your car accident attorney will fight hard for the highest payout possible. Having an experienced lawyer at your side is crucial – they have access to resources and high-value coverage.

Filing a Claim

Prior to any settlement being offered by an insurance company, they will need to assess your claim and establish an equitable amount of compensation to cover damages. This process includes considering medical expenses, property damage, and any other factors contributing to losses. They will request documents and evidence supporting these aspects of your case such as medical records or statements from witnesses who were present during the accident.

Once the insurance company has compiled all of your evidence, they will make a settlement offer. Keep in mind that by accepting their offer you will give up any future rights to additional compensation from your car accident. Therefore it is wise to consult an attorney prior to accepting any settlement; their expertise can ensure your current and future losses are covered fully as well as making sure the insurer pays what they owe you.

Filing a Lawsuit

After being involved in a car accident, victims want to quickly move on with life if their injuries are minor and their insurer has promised payment of their claim within days of the collision.

Before agreeing to settle a car accident claim on your own, consult a personal injury attorney first. A legal representative can give an impartial overview of all losses, such as non-economic ones like pain and suffering.

An attorney can also work with medical providers to negotiate bills that exceed your insurance policy limits, protecting their client at each step from initial negotiations with their insurance provider to filing suit if necessary.

When choosing a car accident attorney, look for experience. Find out how many cases they have settled and their judicial connections, along with whether or not they feel confident going to trial (most personal injury attorneys post this information online). Also inquire as to their track record in winning settlements.