There's no single average settlement. It depends on the circumstances of your case.
When you’ve been injured in a car accident, you may wonder about your financial recovery. Depending on the severity of your injuries, expenses can quickly add up to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Your recovery timeline may be unclear, but it's clear that you'll miss work and lose income. Therefore, it’s important to contact an experienced car accident attorney to learn your legal rights and the process for resolving your claim.
Every car accident is different, so every car accident claim is different. There is no meaningful average settlement for a car accident because they all are unique. Every claim should be examined individually. There are aspects of your case that you can look at to gain a better understanding, but ultimately, only an attorney can tell you what your case is worth.
Your settlement should cover all of your costs.
Expenses after a car accident can stack up fast. You should be able to receive financial compensation for these expenses. Some of the most common costs people are faced with after a car accident include:
- Emergency medical care
- Ongoing medical treatment, including physical therapy and surgery
- Prescription medications and medical devices
- Replacement and future income if you are unable to work
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
How to pursue compensation
You may be wondering how to get started in the process of pursuing compensation. There are a couple of things you need to know. First, receiving compensation after a car accident varies from state to state. For example, Texas is an at-fault state, meaning you generally should receive compensation from the at-fault driver (and their insurance company). The problem is that many insurance companies try to take advantage of people and offer them far less compensation than what they're entitled to recover.
The second thing you need to know is that you don't have to take the insurance company's first offer. With the help of an experienced attorney, you can decline their offer and negotiate for a better one. However, you don't have unlimited time. In Texas, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. The insurance company may continue to be unreasonable, and your case may go to court. Your attorney will know which direction to go to get the best outcome for your case.
How a lawyer can make the most out of your claim
Having an attorney by your side will put you in the best position to recover the compensation you deserve. Your lawyer can investigate the accident, build a strong case the insurance company can't ignore, negotiate on your behalf, and, if necessary, litigate your case in civil court.
Don’t let the insurance companies take advantage of you. Attorney Coby L. Wooten knows how to deal with insurance adjusters and fight for maximum compensation. To learn more about how we can help you, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced Fort Worth car accident attorney.