If you do an internet search about the average settlement for a car accident, you will find a wide range of numbers. Unfortunately, these statistics are misleading, and the calculated average of car settlements doesn’t really provide valuable information on their own. It’s better to think about car accident settlement amounts on a range.
Those with viable claims could receive thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or more, depending on the facts of the case.
Factors that Influence a Settlement
Several factors impact the value of your car accident settlement. Nevada law outlines the types of damages that car accident victims can collect in a personal injury lawsuit. Economic damages and pain and suffering are two factors that typically affect the value most.
Economic Damages
The total amount of economic damages you suffer as a result of your car accident plays a big role in determining the compensation you could receive in a settlement. Economic damages include tangible expenses and losses that car accident victims suffer due to their injuries. The most common economic damages are medical expenses and lost wages.
In the most severe accidents, economic damages sometimes include costs for making a home more accessible to those who suffer permanent injuries or hiring outside help for cooking, cleaning, lawn care, etc.
Pain and Suffering
A car accident leads to physical and emotional pain and suffering for accident victims. Assessing pain and suffering is not a completely objective or exact process. Lawyers, insurance adjusters, and other relevant parties examine the extent to which car accident injuries impact someone’s life and place a monetary value on the impact.
As a general rule, the most severe injuries lead to the most pain and suffering, increasing the value of a claim.
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Will I Get the Average Amount or More?
Whether you receive the average amount or more for your car accident settlement depends on your individual circumstances. Each case has underlying facts that can increase or decrease the amount of economic damages and pain and suffering that a car accident victim endures. In many cases, hiring a lawyer gives injured car accident victims a better chance of getting a higher than average settlement.
Your Claim
Nevada is a fault insurance state, meaning the driver responsible for the accident is liable for damages. However, Nevada drivers have the option of purchasing medical coverage. If you have medical coverage, your claim will not include the medical expenses covered by your insurance policy.
Even if you do not have med pay, you need to inform your insurance provider of your accident. Sometimes they will file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance policy. In other situations, you will need to file your claim on your own unless you hire a lawyer.
Hiring an Attorney May Increase Your Chances
Insurance companies like deny a claim whenever they can, drag them out, or devalue them to avoid financial liability for their policyholders. Sometimes, when car accident victims do not have legal counsel, they push the envelope in terms of fairly and quickly handling a claim. Hiring an attorney helps to ensure that the insurance company takes your claim seriously and does not act in bad faith.
Additionally, hiring a lawyer means that you will let them communicate with the insurance company. This protects you from saying anything they could try to use to devalue your claim, giving you the best chances of receiving a higher than average car accident settlement.
What Our Car Accident Lawyers Will Do for You
Experienced car accident attorneys do far more than file paperwork. Our car accident lawyers have your best interest in mind from the moment they meet a client. We begin by evaluating your case to make sure you have a viable claim.
We also handle necessary communications with the insurance company and advise you on the best strategy going forward. Advocating for our clients also means investigating their claims and negotiating a fair settlement.
Investigating Your Claim
Law enforcement typically fills out an official police report, and your doctor will have medical documentation of your injuries, but our car accident lawyers go further to build the best case possible for our clients. We thoroughly investigate each claim to uncover all the facts, especially ones that might not be present in the police report.
For example, we can look for nearby video surveillance, consult with accident reconstruction specialists, or request the at-fault driver’s cell phone records and driving history. The stronger case we can build against the driver who caused you harm, the better odds you will receive a higher than average settlement claim.
Getting a Fair Settlement
After a car accident, insurance providers like to make quick, lowball settlement offers to tempt accident victims to accept the money and waive their right to seek future compensation for damages. These offers prey on those who suffer the most financial hardship in the wake of a car accident. Although they might be tempting, they are typically never close to the amount a car accident victim deserves for economic damages and pain and suffering.
Our lawyers are skilled negotiators who understand the true value of your claim. We make every effort to negotiate a fair settlement that doesn’t leave you with unpaid medical expenses after your accident. In the rare event that settlement negotiations fail, we will take your case to trial to fight for you to get the compensation you deserve for your car accident injuries.
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Call an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Today!
Pacific West Injury Law has the knowledge, resources, and experience to advocate for you in the aftermath of a car accident. If you have suffered injuries in a car accident in Las Vegas or throughout Nevada, contact Pacific West Injury Law online or call (702) 602-4878 to determine the best path forward for your individual circumstances.
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