If you’re injured, you may wonder, how much is my car accident settlement worth? That depends on many things. The more severe and long-lasting your injuries, generally, the greater its value. The higher your medical bills and the more wages you lost also play a role. If you want to know what your car settlement may be worth, contact the Mann Law Firm for a free consultation.

We’ve settled thousands of car accident cases, and we have a recipe for success. The main ingredients are hard work, skill, and knowledge. It’s why so many injured in car accidents in the Macon area rely on us for help.

What Is the Value of My Car Accident Claim?

There are many factors to deciding what’s a fair settlement for a car accident claim. They include:

  • Medical expenses: This is a way to measure your harm. There’s an assumption that the higher your medical bills, the worse your injury. Expenses include the treatment you’ve gotten in the past and what you’re expected to need in the future. They include doctor’s appointments, diagnostic tests, rehabilitation, hospital stays, surgeries and medications.
  • Property damage: This covers the damage caused to your car and any personal items inside.
  • Lost earnings: This is the pay and benefits you lost because you missed work and are expected to miss in the future. If you suffer a permanent disability that reduces your future ability to make money, this could be a substantial amount.
  • Multiplier for general damages: The amounts above are added up. The sum is multiplied by a figure representing the pain and suffering you’ve endured. The more serious, long-lasting, and painful the injuries, the higher the multiplier (normally from 1.5 to 5). Clear evidence that the other party is at fault can also increase the multiplier.

This formula will provide a “ballpark figure” of what your car accident settlement’s worth. Your actual settlement will depend on:

  • Negotiations with the insurance company
  • What you’re willing to accept
  • What they’re willing to pay.

The strength of your evidence plays a big role in the insurance company’s willingness to offer a fair settlement. The weaker the evidence, the less the insurance company will want to pay. Strong evidence like witness statements, the other driver’s arrest, or video of the accident should boost the insurance carrier’s desire to settle your case.

How Much Can I Get from My Car Accident Settlement? What Can I Do to Increase It?

Your settlement value depends on what happened to you, but your actions, or failure to act, can also make a big difference. Here are issues to think about:

Did you cause the accident?

To have a successful insurance claim or car accident lawsuit, you must prove the other party is at least half at fault. If what you did, or didn’t do, makes you half or more at fault, you have no claim. The insurance company won’t pay to settle with you and your lawsuit will be dismissed.

Did you honestly describe the accident?

When you talked to us and the police, did you fully explain the situation as best as you could remember? Did you withhold or make up information about the accident’s cause? If false information is submitted to the insurance company, you could be guilty of insurance fraud.

Both we and the insurance company investigate claims. They won’t pay fraudulent claims and we won’t represent you if your claim is a fraud. You can still get a settlement even if you were partially at fault for the accident. Since you can be partially at fault and have a valid case, don’t invent or leave out information to try to make yourself look perfect.

Did you wait too long to make a claim?

Generally, car accident victims have two years from their injury, or the discovery of their injury, to file a lawsuit. Your case will be dismissed if you wait too long to sue, without a compelling reason for the delay. Your case will have no value.

Did you talk to other people or post on social media about the accident?

Whatever you say or post can be used against you and may impact how much your car accident settlement is worth. Don’t claim to be seriously injured, then post on Facebook how great you feel or pictures of you jogging or putting in a new patio. If you tell someone the accident was your fault, that may come back to haunt you.

Social media is one of the first places insurance companies look when they investigate a claim. Assume that what you post or comment on publicly will get back to them. If you say one thing to the insurance company and another thing on social media sites, this may seriously cut the value of your case. The insurance company may think you’re involved in fraud. This means they may not want to pay you anything.

Did you follow your doctor’s advice?

If you ignore your doctor’s advice without a good reason, and your recovery is delayed or prevented, it will hurt the value of your car accident claim. You need to be reasonable when it comes to your treatment. We send our clients to the area’s best doctors, but if you disagree with your treatment, tell us. We can arrange for you to see another doctor and get a second opinion. Unless you’re told that no matter what you do you’ll never improve, you need to take an active role in your recovery.

Did you look for another job?

You need to make an effort to reduce your losses. If you were laid off because of your injury, you need to search for another job. As long as you’re not totally disabled, you need to look for work and document your efforts. If you stay at home and wait for your settlement check, that check may be much less.

What is the Value of Your Car Accident Claim? Call Us to Find Out.

The Mann Law Firm deals firmly and aggressively with insurance companies so they won’t take advantage of our clients. When a  personal injury attorney takes a case, its settlement value normally greatly increases. After we’re involved, we will deal with the insurance company so you can focus on recovery and getting your life back together. We can bring you results and peace of mind.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, call our car accident lawyer in Macon at (478) 742-3381 and set up a free consultation today. You pay no fee unless we win your case.

Attorney David Mann

Attorney David MannBefore leading his own firm, Mann served for several years as in-house defense counsel for a large insurance company, which gives him unique insight into how insurance companies work. He uses this critical knowledge as an advantage for his clients. He is a tough negotiator and litigator, and he is exceptionally strategic in building cases on behalf of personal injury victims.[ Attorney Bio ]

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