What Can I Be Compensated For As A Result Of My Car Crash?

May 9, 2022 The Mechanic Doctor

The victim of a car crash deserves to be compensated by the insurance company of the person responsible for the accident. The reason is that car accidents fall under the umbrella of personal injury law, meaning that the negligent behavior of someone else caused the accident. That means the insurance company of the person responsible for the accident needs to pay for the victim’s damages. Since a car crash can be very devastating, there are a lot of potential damages for which the victim should be compensated.

If the accident victim needs compensation, then they should retain the services of a personal injury attorney. That is because an attorney will give them the best possible chance of getting the compensation they deserve. There is a lot that a personal injury can do for their client, starting from helping them file their personal injury claim to negotiating with the insurance company for a fair settlement amount. So, if you were in a car crash that was not your fault, contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. You can click robertslawfirm.net to learn more about what a personal injury attorney can do for you.

Compensation in a Car Crash

In all personal injury cases, the victim is eligible for economic and non-economic damages. The differences are evident in their titles; namely, economic damages compensate the victim for losses that have monetary value while non-economic damages the victim for damages that don’t have a fixed dollar amount. The economic damages can be ascertained from bills and receipts, but the lawyer and an insurance adjuster need to use special calculations to determine the dollar amount of the non-economic damages. However, no matter how the non-economic damages are calculated, they will usually be more than the economic damages.

Economic Damages

Some examples of economic damages are as follows:

Medical Bills – These are likely to be the most expensive damages since medical bills include ambulance rides, hospital stays, imaging scans, prescription medication, and more. The cost and amount of the medical bills depend on the severity of the car crash. This should cover both current and future medical bills.
Property Damage – Since this personal injury is a car crash, there is likely to be some damage to the victim’s vehicle. Depending on the extent of the damage, the car could need to be repaired or replaced entirely; either way, the victim deserves compensation for their damaged property.
Lost Wages – If the victim’s injuries leave them unable to work while they recover, then they deserve to be compensated for the wages they would have earned.

Non-Economic Damages

The following are some examples of non-economic damages:

Pain and Suffering – This is one of the most common economic damages and refers to the physical and emotional pain the victim feels because of their injuries.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – If the car accident was very intense and life-threatening, the victim might experience PTSD can cause flashbacks to the incident, sleep disorders, panic attacks, and more.
Depression – The car crash could leave the victim in a depressive funk, especially if they are unable to perform or enjoy activities they could before the accident.
Scarring – If the accident caused permanent or temporary scarring, that could affect the victim’s self-esteem.
Survivor’s Guilt – If the car accident was bad enough that it caused the death of someone else in the vehicle, the survivor could feel severe guilt over their companion’s death.

Punitive Damages

These damages are awarded to the victim and are meant to punish the at-fault party for their behavior. Punitive damages are only awarded if the person that caused the accident was especially reckless, careless, and displayed a wanton disregard for the safety of others. The attorney cannot put punitive damages in the personal injury claim, they can only be awarded by a judge or jury if they believe the perpetrator’s actions warrant that punishment.

What If I’m Partially at Fault for the Accident?

If you were partially responsible for the car crash, you could still receive some compensation if you live in a state that uses the comparative negligence rule. This rule states that someone is eligible for compensation even if they were 99% at fault for the accident. That person is still eligible for compensation, but it will be reduced by their percentage of fault for the accident. For example, if someone would have received $10,000 in compensation, but it is determined that they are 50% responsible for the accident, they will instead receive $5000.

Contact a Personal Injury Attorney If You Were Injured in a Car Crash

Car crashes can vary in severity from minor fender-benders to destructive head-on collisions. But no matter how serious or mild a car accident is, the victim deserves compensation. The best way to get that compensation is to hire a personal injury lawyer to represent them. However, since there are many different types of personal injuries, such as medical malpractice, premises liability, and product liability, you need to make sure that the attorney you choose has experience with car accident cases.

An attorney is invaluable because they can help the victim in many different ways; from filing the personal injury claim to gathering evidence to calculating damages to negotiating with the insurance company, and more. An attorney gives you the best chance of getting the compensation you need and deserve. And since personal injury lawyers tend to offer free consultations and work on a contingency basis, there is no risk in hiring one to represent you.