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What Determines How Much I Can Recover in a Car Accident Settlement?
Given the many factors involved, negotiating a car accident claim can be complex. You must present convincing reasons why you should be compensated for your injuries and other damages. Car accident settlement amounts in Arizona vary significantly. However, the average figure ranges from $10,000 to over $30,000, with some cases settling at over a million dollars.
The disparity stems from various factors that insurance companies consider in determining how much to pay for your damages. Personal injury lawyers in Arizona can fight for the maximum compensation you deserve after evaluating the following factors:
Extent and Severity of the Accident
You could be entitled to a higher recovery amount if investigations reveal that the accident was severe. Collisions with significant injuries may qualify you for a large settlement amount to help you cater to your medical expenses. If you lost a loved one in the accident, you may be eligible for compensation for wrongful death to cater for the burial and funeral costs and the loss of a loved one.
Medical Expenses
The medical expenses you incur, including future medical costs, determine the settlement amount you get. You can receive a higher compensation if you have a pre-existing condition worsened by the injuries sustained in the crash.
Skilled Phoenix car accident attorneys can calculate the maximum amount you deserve for your medical expenses, considering surgery, outpatient procedures, prescription medication, mental health counseling, and physical therapy costs. They will also account for out-of-pocket expenses such as over-the-counter medications.
Property Damage
Once your car accident attorneys in Phoenix determine the at-fault driver’s liability, they can pursue compensation for any property damage. Property damage includes the costs of repairing or replacing your car. It may also include losing or damaging personal items such as eyeglasses, laptops, or phones.
Arizona requires motorists to have at least $15,000 in property damage liability insurance. The damages are separate from bodily injuries.
Your Ability to Work
A portion of your car accident settlement will cater to your lost capacity to make a living. If the accident was severe, you may have sustained long-term injuries that prevent you from working at the same level you did before or returning to work for a long time. Your lawyers will fight to recover lost wages, opportunities, and future earnings.
Insurance
Arizona has a fault-based insurance system in which car owners must buy liability insurance. Everyone injured in an accident can file claims against the at-fault driver’s liability insurance policy. The compensation amount depends on the policy limits.
For example, if the driver has a 25/50 policy, the insurance pays up to $25,000 if only one person sustains injuries. The policy pays a maximum of $50,000 if multiple people were injured in the crash. The higher the policy limit, the more you can recover with the help of aggressive Arizona personal injury attorneys.
Liability
Before pursuing compensation for the injuries you sustained in an accident, you must prove the at-fault driver’s negligence. Proving negligence is a complicated process that requires four elements to be present:
- Duty to exercise reasonable care
- Breach of the duty of care
- Bodily injuries or property damages
- A causal relationship proving that the breach of duty was the cause of the damages
You may not recover all your damages if the defendant proves you were to blame for the accident. So, retaining skilled car accident lawyers in Arizona is crucial to establishing your case and recovering the maximum compensation your case is worth.
Your Ability to Wait
The claim process is lengthy and entails a lot of back and forth between claimants and the insurance company. Your ability to withstand the delays designed to make you give up significantly determines how much you can recover.
If you get desperate enough early in the process, you may settle for the insurance company’s initial offer, which could be far below the actual value of your claim. Being able to withstand the insurance company’s tactics and waiting for your lawyers to fight for your deserved settlement could give a better outcome.
How Can I Increase My Settlement Value?
Immediately after an accident or as soon as you can, contact experienced car accident lawyers in Arizona for legal advice. They can provide insights into the legal steps to take that can help maximize your compensation amount:
- Seek medical attention: Even if you don’t feel like your injuries are severe, seeking medical attention is crucial for your case. Some injuries don’t show symptoms until later, and it might be too late to seek additional compensation when the complications are later discovered.
- Document the damages: Having a record of the damages, your recovery journey, expenses incurred in relation to the injuries, and proof of lost wages can go a long way when negotiating a fair settlement.
- Be prepared to go to trial: When the other party’s insurance company sees your willingness to go to trial, it may be more willing to compensate you fairly to avoid a trial’s back and forth and uncertainty.
- Be patient: Being patient can increase the settlement value of your claim, primarily if you work with skilled personal injury attorneys in Arizona. Accepting the first offer by the insurance company reduces your chances of recovering the total value of what your case is worth.
An Experienced Car Accident Attorney Helping You Maximize Your Compensation Claim
Maximizing the settlement value of your car accident case depends on many factors. Putting them all together for the good of your case can be difficult for you. Phoenix car accident lawyers with knowledge and experience in personal injury laws can help you navigate the system’s intricacies to receive the maximum compensation amount possible.
The Desert Star Law Group has passionate personal injury lawyers dedicated to giving clients hope as they pursue compensation for their damages. We understand that you may not be able to run after the at-fault party’s insurance company in your state. So, let us take the wheel when you cannot and fight for what you deserve. Call us at (602) 584-8957 for a FREE consultation.
