What is the Average Settlement for a Minor Car Accident?

What is the Average Settlement for a Minor Car Accident?

If you or somebody you care about has been injured or sustained property damage in a relatively minor vehicle accident, you should be able to recover compensation if the incident was caused by another driver.

But how much compensation will you receive?

It can be challenging to adequately assess the value of a vehicle accident, especially in the early stages right after the incident occurs. However, there are various factors that go into calculating these claims that we can discuss so you can have an idea of how much to expect in a settlement.

What Types of Compensation May be Available for a Car Accident Claim?

There may be various types of compensation available to car accident victims in San Bernardino and throughout California. There are two overall basic types of damages that an attorney will help a client recover: economic damages and non-economic damages.

Economic damages refer to the types of losses that can be more easily quantified by examining bills, pay stubs, and invoices that come in after the incident occurs. The most common economic damages include the following:

• Emergency medical bills
• Physical therapy or rehabilitation
• Surgical expenses
• Medical devices and prescription medications
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Property damage expenses
• Out-of-pocket expenses

Non-economic damages are more intangible, even though they are just as real. We say that these are intangible because they are not as easily calculable as the economic damages mentioned above. For example, it is harder to calculate a car accident victim’s:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional or psychological distress
• Loss of companionship or consortium for a spouse
• Humiliation or suffering caused by scarring and disfigurement

How Much Will Your Settlement Be Worth?

There is no “average” car accident settlement because no two vehicle accidents are exactly alike. The total amount of compensation a crash victim receives in an insurance settlement or as a result of a personal injury jury verdict will vary depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding their particular situation. Some of the factors that can influence compensation amounts include the severity of the injuries, whether or not there was any shared fault, the level of property damage, the document table pain and suffering, and more.

One common misconception is that a “minor” vehicle accident will not result in much compensation at all, so individuals often leave the scene of the incident and fail to file a claim with their insurance carrier. This is a big mistake. Right after a crash occurs, it is impossible to know the full extent of the incident. Many injuries do not show signs or symptoms right after a crash occurs, and major property damage can still occur even if there are no outward signs of damage.

By failing to file an insurance claim after a seemingly minor vehicle accident, individuals are taking a significant risk of not recovering compensation for any unseen injuries or property damage they have incurred. Additionally, if the other parties involved decide to file a claim with their insurance carrier, this could put you in a very difficult situation with having to explain why you failed to file a claim as well.

Contact an Attorney for Help Immediately

If you or somebody you care about has been injured or sustained property damage in a vehicle accident in San Bernardino or the surrounding areas, reach out to a San Bernardino accident lawyer today. A car accident lawyer can examine the facts of your case, help determine how much compensation you may be entitled to, and work diligently to negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance carriers involved.