One of the first questions our clients ask is – how much is my car accident case worth? We understand why they ask this question. If you’ve ever been involved in a car crash, you know angry it can make you. You’re probably dealing with physical injuries. Your car was likely damaged or destroyed. All you want to know is that the other driver is going to pay. Our car accident lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina can help you get the car accident damages you deserve.
If you were in a car wreck and the other driver was at fault, they should be held liable. Sometimes, that’s harder than you may think. You certainly don’t want to handle the matter of your car accident damages yourself. There’s no telling what the insurance company will do with your claim, especially if they know you’re not represented by a Charlotte injury lawyer.
It’s Hard to Say Exactly What Your Accident Claim is Worth
You or your loved one may have questions about how much compensation you can receive when you file a personal injury lawsuit. This might be the case when the culprit of your accident is a third party. Your priority now is to put the accident behind you and get back to normal life as soon as possible. When you are still dealing with hefty medical bills and other expenses related to a serious injury, it is hard to forget everything and move on.
You may be entitled to car accident damages if you were harmed by another’s reckless actions. Whenever clients ask about the value of their case, our car accident lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina tell them they can’t give them a precise answer. Every car accident damages case is different so only time can tell. An injury claim’s value is determined by a variety of factors, including how severe your injuries were, whether you need future medical care, and the type of insurance you have.
As reported by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, there were 285,074 traffic accidents reported in 2019, a 1.2% increase from 2018. Each of these accident victims wants to know the same thing you do – how much will I get paid?
General Damages
General damages are typically compensation for pain and suffering, lost income, property damage, and medical expenses. Each of these have to be specifically proven by your Charlotte injury lawyer.
Depending on how serious your injuries are, your pain and suffering may make up the lion’s share of your damages. A good rule of thumb is that your pain and suffering equals three times your economic damages. So, if your medical bills, lost income, and property damage are $50,000, you can demand $150,000 in pain and suffering.
Usually, your lawyer will negotiate this amount in your settlement. Their goal is to make sure you get enough money to cover your out-of-pocket expenses. Anything on top of that is money you can count toward the personal anguish you suffered as a result of the crash.
What Kinds of Car Accident Damages Can a Charlotte Injury Lawyer Get Me?
You will be able to collect car accident damages for a host of things. As long as your Charlotte injury lawyer can prove it, they’ll put it in your complaint. The key is that you have to actually suffer the injuries for which you demand compensation. If all you experienced was whiplash, you can’t demand more than a few thousand dollars. This is, of course, in addition to your out-of-pocket medical bills.
When it comes to property damages, your lawyer needs to show the bill for repairs. If your car was totaled, they’ll need to show proof of that and demand fair market value for your vehicle.
As for pain and suffering, it can be hard to predict how much you’ll get. Your attorney will demand what they feel is a fair amount. However, they also understand that it’s hard to prove these damages. This is usually where your attorney does their settlement negotiations. They know that as long as they get you enough to cover your economic car accident damages, the rest is above and beyond what you need to be made whole.
What Are Considered Economic Damages?
As mentioned above, your car accident lawyer in Charlotte, North Carolina will demand two types of damages – economic and non-economic damages. Your economic damages include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Medical bills
- Future medical costs
- Income lost while recovering from your injury
- A future loss of income
- Damage to or destruction of property
You’ll notice that pain and suffering are not on this list. That’s because they do not count as economic damages. They can’t be quantified in dollars and cents.
Negotiating a Settlement Offer
When it comes to negotiating a settlement, you never want to accept the defendant’s first offer. Even if the insurance company offers to settle your claim, they’re going to make a low offer. They don’t want to pay out a dime more than they have to.
This is why we recommend you hire an experienced Charlotte injury lawyer. They’ll make sure you aren’t taken advantage of. They’ll also ensure that any settlement they do accept is enough to make you whole.
Some accident victims tell us they absolutely refuse to settle. They say they want their day in court. It’s important to remember that a trial isn’t good for anybody. If you go to court, you risk losing. The defendant isn’t going to sit there while you put on your case. They’re going to argue that you caused the crash. There’s always a chance the judge or jury will side with them.
Even if you do win at trial, it’s going to cost a lot of money. Your attorney will have to hire expert witnesses and accident reconstruction specialists. They may have to spend thousands of dollars conducting depositions. All this money has to be paid out of your final judgment. The more you spend, the less you get in the end. Rather than waste money, you should be realistic about settling your case.
A Charlotte Injury Lawyer Can Help You Claim Compensation
You can find calculators online, but they will only provide you with a general idea of what your claim is worth. Unfortunately, no formula will calculate the exact value of your car accident damages case. An experienced Charlotte injury lawyer can assist you in protecting your rights and fighting to get you as much money as possible. All you need to do is call and schedule your free, initial consultation.
