The average settlement for a car accident is difficult to determine. Each Los Angeles car accident is different in the damages they cause and who is hurt. The settlement you could receive may vary based on your injuries, your damages, your income, your daily life, and much more. The insurance companies and any lawyers involved can also play a significant role in a claim settlement.
Compensation
The exact value of a car accident settlement varies from person to person. No two claims are the same. Because of California Civil Code (CIV) §1431.2, you are able to fight for compensation for the damage you sustained. When you are in a car accident, you could receive compensation that could cover:
Medical Expenses
The amount of medical expenses you have depends on where you are treated and the severity of your injuries. Medical expenses can result from emergency room visits, doctor’s visits, diagnostic tests, treatments, hospitalizations, and much more.
Future Medical Expenses
You may have to have future medical treatment due to your injuries. If you are expected to need future medical treatment due to the accident, you could be compensated in advance. These costs could include future surgeries, hospital stays, the time you need off work, physical therapy, or any other treatment you could need.
Vehicle Damage
If your vehicle was damaged in the accident, you could be compensated for its repairs. Your vehicle could be totaled if the cost of repairs is greater than the amount the vehicle is worth. If this is the case, you could be compensated for the cost of a replacement vehicle. You can prove the damage to your vehicle by providing photographs as well as a statement from your mechanic.
Loss of Income
When you are injured, you might have to take time off work, depending on your occupation. In order to prove loss of income, you can provide your most recent pay stubs along with proof of the time you missed.
Change in Salary
If your injuries were severe enough, you might have to consider switching careers in order to adjust to your new lifestyle. This change could mean taking a less physical job, which could result in a lower salary.
Decrease in Quality of Life
Being hurt or injured can affect the way you live your daily life. When you are in pain, you may not get as much enjoyment out of life as you did before your injuries. While this compensation is difficult to put a dollar amount on, your decrease in quality of life could be considered when determining compensation.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering is any physical or mental pain you have gone through as a result of your car accident. Someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, and you have already been through enough stress and pain.
Domestic Assistance
When you are injured, you may not be able to take care of your household duties as you normally would. These chores could include tasks such as laundry, doing dishes, cleaning, or yard work. If you are unable to complete daily tasks due to your injury, you could receive compensation for domestic assistance.
These are just a few examples of the possible compensation you could receive. The compensation you receive could be any combination above. A lawyer can help you determine your losses from the accident and work with you to fight for what you may deserve.
Partial Liability
California is considered a comparative negligence state. Even if you played some role in the accident, you could still receive compensation for your injuries. However, according to the California Civil Jury Instructions No. 405, the amount of compensation you may receive could be decreased by the percentage that is assigned to your degree of fault.
Having a Lawyer
Having a lawyer can help you with many aspects of your car accident settlement. If you were injured in your car accident, you should be focusing on treatment and recovery. A car accident claim disrupts your life enough without the added stress of dealing with legal issues and insurance companies.
Determining the average settlement for a car accident can be challenging, as settlements vary widely from case to case. Let Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices take that off your hands. Call us at (888) 522-6291 today to get started.