After a car accident, your expenses can add up at a rapid rate. From medical bills to lost wages to repair costs, a wreck can put a considerable burden on your finances. Unfortunately, for many American families, this sudden ambush of expenses can lead to long-term money woes.
Understandably, youโre probably eager to find out how much your claim might be worth. After all, a fair settlement will give you the necessary funds to pick up the pieces and get your life back on track in the wake of this traumatic event.
While itโs impossible to guarantee a specific outcome in a personal injury case, a skilled car accident lawyer can assess your situation to help estimate fair compensation for your losses. Letโs look at a few factors that might affect the value of your financial award:
1. The Severity of Your Injuries
A catastrophic injury can cost a small fortune to treat, with long-term or permanent conditions resulting in a lifetime of medical expenses. However, losses arenโt just limited to the expenses associated with your healthcare.
If, for example, you suffered a permanent disability, you may be unable to work and might be forced to fork out for home and vehicle modifications to accommodate limitations stemming from your injuries. As such, the seriousness of your condition will almost always have a major impact on the potential recovery in your case.
2. The Amount of Time You Were Unable to Work
As an injury victim, you have a right to seek compensation for the wages you lost during the period you were unable to work after the accident. While the amount you were earning prior to the wreck will affect the value of such damages, the number of days you were sidelined from your job will also influence this amount.
If your injuries will prevent you from working in the future, you may be able to pursue damages for future lost wages and diminished earning potential. Your attorney may need to consult with vocational experts and economists to help map out your expected career trajectory and estimate the value of these future losses.
3. Whether You Experienced Pain and Suffering
Not all the damages stemming from an accident are reflected on bills, invoices, and receipts. Some, such as emotional distress, loss of enjoyment in life, and pain and suffering, are invisible scars that will still have a profound impact on your quality of life.
Fortunately, you may be able to recover compensation for these intangible losses. However, proving such damages isnโt as simple as many of the others listed here. Your lawyer may have to use many different types of evidence to help illustrate the effect your injuries have had on your mental wellbeing, such as personal injury journal entries, psychiatric reports, and expert witness deposition.
Discuss Your Claim with an Atlanta Car Accident Attorney
The effects of a car accident can reach far and wide, so itโs important to make sure your claim accounts for the full extent of your losses before agreeing to a settlement offer. At Moebes Law, our legal team can help investigate the wreck and assess the available evidence to help estimate fair compensation for the losses youโve incurred. To lock in a free consultation with an Atlanta car accident attorney, dial (404) 354-5432 or click through to our contact page HERE.