“My lawyer got me $1 million!” …Sound familiar?
Don’t use advertisements to tell you how much to expect from a car accident settlement!
If you live in (or have driven through) Central Florida, you’ve likely seen billboards showing car accident victims proudly proclaiming that their lawyer has won them hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more) for their injuries.
And if you’ve ever been in a car accident, you might have asked yourself, “Why shouldn’t that be me?”
But it would be a mistake to use a billboard or TV commercial as a reliable source of information on how much to expect from your own car accident settlement.
In this article, we’ll go over the basic information about car accident settlement amounts as well as how much to expect from a car accident settlement.
$1 Million is the Exception, Not the Rule!
We’re not saying that personal injury lawyers are being untruthful about how much compensation they win for their clients. However, there is more to the story that may not be adequately communicated by a billboard or TV commercial.
The clients who make it onto the billboard are not the “average” client. If you were to make a chart of the average amount that a lawyer won for their clients over the course of a decade, the result would look something like this:
As you can see, there are clients on both ends of the spectrum; some received relatively small compensations while others received a great deal.
However, the majority of a lawyer’s clients fall somewhere in the middle. This is an “average” amount for the “average” car accident claim.
There’s a reason that most attorneys can’t tell the general public how much to expect from a car accident settlement: every accident (and every set of injuries) is completely different.
One client that sustained only minor injuries that healed quickly would be entitled to a much lower amount than a client who lost a limb (or worse) in a severe accident.
Even two clients who both suffered from whiplash may receive completely different compensation amounts, as there are other factors that affect how a car accident settlement is calculated:
- Type of treatment required
- Whether or not you need long-term care
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Insurance coverage limits (both yours and the other party’s)
- Loss of income
- Emotional and mental anguish
During your car accident case, your attorney will use all of these details to tell the story of how the accident has negatively affected your life. They will then negotiate with the insurance company until they reach an amount that you consider to be fair.
Average Car Accident Settlement Amounts
That being said, here are some guidelines to give you an idea of how much to expect from a car accident settlement.
At the very least, your car accident settlement should cover the cost of your medical bills, plus an additional amount for “pain and suffering.”
For car accident claims involving serious injuries that require a lifetime of medical care, it can be difficult to “put a number on” your suffering.
Your car accident attorney, however, has a wealth of knowledge and experience working with various clients and insurance companies. S/he will be able to advise you on how much to expect from a car accident settlement based on your unique situation.
It’s no secret in the legal industry that insurance companies tend to undervalue injuries. After all, insurance companies are concerned with profits, like any business.
But there’s no reason why their bottom line has to determine what you receive for your injuries.
Your pain, medical bills, and long-term care should never depend on the charity of a corporate business. That’s why you need an educated advocate on your side who will fight for what you deserve.
Never accept the first car accident settlement offer you get from the insurance company! It will seem like a lot of money, but remember that this is a negotiation and they will never start with their highest offer.
A car accident attorney will handle negotiations to level the playing field in your favor. They know what questions to ask, what points to make, and—most importantly—how much you can expect from your car accident settlement.
At Sunshine State Law Firm, we understand the pain and confusion that often follows a car accident. Between your personal obligations and your medical treatment, you have enough on your plate. You shouldn’t have to fight with an insurance company, too!
Let our attorneys fight for you!
The amount of compensation you will receive is directly related to your legal assistance. Having an attorney on your side to investigate and communicate on your behalf gives you a much better chance at receiving the amount you deserve.
Call today to schedule your free consultation and see how much to expect from a car accident settlement.