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There are many factors that could affect the amount of compensation you could receive in a settlement of your car accident injury claim. We will give a brief overview of a few of these things in this blog. Some of these factors could increase the amount of money damages you could recover, while others could decrease the amount you receive.
You can talk with a Los Angeles car accident attorney for more information on 6 factors that determine how much to expect from a car accident settlement in Los Angeles. Also, the lawyer could handle your injury claim for you.
Your Fault, If Any
Sometimes, two or more parties made mistakes that combined to cause an accident. For example, one person might have run a stop sign. The other person could have avoided the collision if they had not been distracted by talking on their cell phone while driving.
Each party will get assessed a percentage of the total fault. In our scenario, the person who ran the stop sign might get assessed 90% of the total fault, while the distracted driver might be responsible for 10% of the total fault.
Let’s say that you were the distracted driver. Your 10% negligence would reduce your settlement by 10%. If your settlement would have been $100,000, for example, your 10% negligence would reduce your settlement by $10,000, leaving you with a $90,000 settlement.
Whether the At-Fault Party Had Insurance
Even though California requires people who own or drive motor vehicles on public streets to have liability insurance, not everyone follows the law. If the at-fault party was uninsured, you could proceed against their personal assets or look for another type of coverage they had, like an umbrella liability policy rider to their homeowner’s insurance, that could cover your losses. Another option is to seek compensation under your own automobile policy if you have uninsured motorist coverage.
How Severe Your Wounds Were
The cost of the medical treatment you needed for your injuries will be a significant factor when determining the settlement value of your car accident injury claim. Severe injuries usually have higher medical bills than minor injuries.
Whether You Have Long-Term Impairment from Your Injuries
Some people are lucky enough to heal completely from their wounds and go through the rest of their lives without recurring problems from their car accident injuries. Other people are not so fortunate. If you have long-term complications, limitations, or impairment from your injuries after you complete your medical treatment and achieve maximum recuperation, we can add this loss to your injury claim.
Knowing the Procedural Rules, Like the Statute of Limitations
All states, including California, place a limit on how much time you have to file a lawsuit seeking compensation for personal injuries. If you miss the deadline, California law could forever bar you from holding the at-fault party accountable for the harm you suffered.
Procedural rules like this could reduce the settlement value of your injury claim to zero. When you work with a California personal injury attorney on your car accident case, you will not have to worry about procedural issues.
Your Past and Future Lost Wages
People often miss time from work while recuperating from car accident injuries. If you did not get paid the full amount of your regular wages, this is an economic loss that we can add to your injury case. If you have lasting impairments from the crash that makes you unable to earn as much money as before the accident, that is another financial loss that can be a part of your claim.
California personal injury attorney can talk with you about the damages you could pursue in your car accident settlement. For help with your case contact our office today.