People across Illinois suffer injuries daily in major and minor car accidents. The unexpected incident drastically changed their lives, often leaving them with severe injuries and mounting medical expenses.
While a car insurance company may cover medical costs, lost wages, and property damages, victims of car accidents suffer from additional burdens following a collision.
In addition to physical pain and lifestyle changes, financial problems are frequently at the top of the life-altering impact of auto accidents.
Many car accident victims and their families want to know how much compensation to expect from a car accident settlement. The answer, however, is more complex than it appears. Here, our attorneys discuss typical car accident settlement amounts.
The best way to receive reliable and relevant information for a particular car accident injury settlement is to consult an experienced car accident attorney.
A consultation with a personal injury attorney at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC is always free. Our law firm advises on the best legal action for a client’s situation.
Schedule a free consultation through this contact form or call (888) 424-5757 (toll-free).
All confidential or sensitive information you share with our law firm remains private through an attorney-client relationship.
Factors That Affect The Typical Car Accident Settlement Amount
Our experienced car accident attorneys have settled hundreds of car accident cases nationwide. Here are factors that impact the value of typical car accident settlement amounts:
The Severity of the Injury
The seriousness of the injuries sustained from the auto accident is a significant factor affecting the amount of a car accident settlement.
The challenge in determining the car accident claim rests on valuing the victim’s pain and suffering.
Typically, insurance adjusters combine a personal injury settlement formula with other factors to estimate fair compensation for a car accident claim.
The Medical Bills and Medical Treatment Received
The type of medical treatment plays a vital role in how an insurance company computes a typical car accident settlement.
In computing car accident settlements, insurance adjusters view medical services differently.
Presenting the proper medical expenses, such as a CT scan for a head injury, will likely result in higher car accident settlements.
Lost Wages
A typical car accident settlement amount includes lost wages to compensate victims for the money they would have earned without the accident.
The insurance company may require victims of car accidents to submit documents proving that their bodily injuries prevented them from working.
Future Medical Treatment and Surgery
The amount of future medical expenses arising from a typical car accident depends mainly on the severity and type of bodily injury.
The future medical costs may include diagnostic tests, surgeries, physical therapy, and nursing services.
Lost Earning Capacity
Having to suffer serious injuries, pay for medical expenses, and be unable to work for a living is difficult for anyone.
An injured victim may recover damages for lost earning capacity as part of the typical car accident settlement amount.
However, while calculating lost wages is pretty straightforward, determining the settlement for lost earning capacity is complex.
Calculating a car accident victim’s lost earning capacity requires looking into the victim’s age, life expectancy, and future career.
If you are a car accident victim looking to maximize your accident settlement, don’t hesitate to contact an expert car accident attorney to help with your case.
Amount of Insurance Coverage Available
The available insurance coverage also impacts the amount of typical car accident settlement amounts.
Auto insurance companies impose policy limits that influence an average settlement.
Some insurers find ways to undervalue car accident insurance claims.
The Jurisdiction Where the Crash Occurred
Each state imposes its own car accident laws, meaning the fair settlement amount may differ depending on the jurisdiction where the car crash happened.
Car insurance settlement is processed under a no-fault insurance claim in several states.
What is the No-Fault Insurance Claim?
Most states operate under a fault-based insurance system. Under this system, an injured person in a car crash can bring property damage and a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver.
However, this is not the case in no-fault states, where the financial responsibility for the car accident comes from the victim’s insurance coverage regardless of who was at fault.
The no-fault insurance policies cover both the insured and the uninsured. Instead of establishing who is at fault, victims can rely on their insurance company to pay for their severe injuries, even in minor accidents.
Here’s what people who live in no-fault states should know:
- No-fault auto insurance can speed up the claim procedure and settlement; however, it does not cover “pain and suffering” and other non-economic losses resulting from the accident. So, both the victim and the at-fault party benefit from a minor car accident settlement.
- The no-fault laws that are in effect in some states significantly limit the victim’s financial recovery options following a car accident.
- The right of drivers and passengers to sue in a no-fault state is limited. However, there are instances when victims can step outside of the no-fault system and instead file a liability claim.
Is It Possible to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in a No-Fault State?
Injured drivers and passengers in no-fault states can file a car accident lawsuit provided that their claim satisfies the following thresholds specified under the state law:
- The accident qualifies as severe injury. For example, car accident victims can file third-party insurance claims or lawsuits if they suffer permanent damage or significant and permanent disfigurement.
- Bills for medical treatments are lesser in cases of minor injuries. However, a car accident victim can file a lawsuit if the medical expenses exceed a dollar amount provided in each state after seeking treatment.
It is best to discuss any car accident situation with a lawyer. Discussing car-accident-related concerns with a lawyer allows victims to thoroughly understand their options and receive fair car accident settlement amounts.
Car Accident Lawyers Committed to Maximizing the Value of Your Case
When an individual or family retains our law firm in a car accident case, our personal injury lawyers collect information to develop a solid case to present to the other driver’s insurance company or a jury.
Taking early steps to preserve evidence can mean the difference between an ‘acceptable’ versus an ‘excellent’ settlement.
Our aggressive investigation and presentation of car accident claim result in most cases getting resolved during negotiations with insurance companies before the case goes to court. This usually means more money in your pocket—faster.
How Much Is the Average Car Accident Settlement Amount?
We invite you to contact our office for a free review of your case with an attorney experienced with auto accidents and personal injury matters.
While we appreciate that you are looking for a specific number for typical car accident settlement amounts, the reality is that many factors play into the value of an auto injury case.
As with our firm’s personal injury cases, we handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis.
We only receive a legal fee when you have a financial return.
- $2,830,000: Settlement realized for a 44-year-old man who suffered injuries to his spinal cord when he was struck by an oncoming vehicle that went through a red light.
- $1,000,000: A car accident. Paid to the family of a deceased 23-year-old woman who was a backseat passenger involved in a high-speed rear-end impact with a pickup truck. The woman died at the scene.
- $667,000: Pedestrian accident with a 34-year-old man crossing the middle of a busy street (not in the crosswalk ) when a construction company employee driving a private vehicle struck the man. We successfully argued that the company was responsible for our client’s injuries as the driver was in the course of his employment.
- $599,900: Auto accident. A 55-year-old teacher was on her way to work when she was hit head-on by a distracted driver texting on his phone. Our client had fractures to her sternum and ankle.
- $449,000: Our client, the front-seat passenger in a friend’s car, was thrown into the windshield when the driver swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle. Our client had numerous facial and head injuries from the impact of the glass. A subdural hematoma was identified at the emergency room, and the bleeding was surgically drained. The defendant’s insurance company entered this settlement even though the expert neuropsychologist they hired testified that our client’s cognitive impairments were not objectively measurable.
- $350,000: After leaving work after an afternoon shift at a hospital lab, our client crossed a street to take the bus home. While crossing the road and in the intersection, a taxicab making a left-hand turn struck the woman. The impact resulted in a fractured tibia and fibula that required surgical repair. The case was settled before
- $250,000: Uninsured motorist policy (see here for a discussion on UM / UIM cases ) limits paid to a mother hit by another vehicle on a suburban street. Our client sustained a shattered patella that required surgery. An extensive search revealed the other driver’s insurance lapsed before the crash.
Typical Car Accident Settlement Amounts FAQs
Our personal injury law firm understands that many families have unanswered questions about dealing directly with insurance companies to resolve compensation claims involving medical bills, lost earnings, and physical pain and suffering.
Get Help After an Accident
The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC handle motor vehicle collisions and have had million-dollar settlements.
Get a free no-obligation consultation through our contact form or call us at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free).
