Accident Settlement Amounts: Car Accidents, Slip and Falls and More

Accidents can happen to anyone. They occur, according to the National Safety Council (NSC) to approximately 33 million Americans annually. They may be severe or minor. In 2004, 1.9 million Americans went to the hospital to be treated for personal injuries. There were also 35 million first visits to physician offices or medical clinics. The leading cause of non-fatal unintentional personal injuries is a fall.

If or when accidents occur, the individual may file a personal injury claim. While many Americans do not do so, others do. In filing the paperwork, the individual and their representative must consider specifics involved in asking for the desired accident settlement amounts.

Personal Injury Basics

No two accident claims are the same. Each case differs according to the situation/accident and the impact upon the individual. The result of a car will vary from that of a slip and fall. When considering the amount to ask for a personal injury, the plaintiff will need to look at and consider different variables. They include

The specific type of accident
The extent or degree of damage (injuries) to the individual
The age of the person involved – If a young person is severely affected it indicates the need for greater compensation than the amount needed by an older person.
Any property damage
The degree or level of pain inflicted
Whether the injury or injuries is permanent or temporary
If the damage is temporary, how long will it last?
How great is the pain? Is it constant, intermittent or temporary?
Does the personal injury affect daily functioning?
Is there any loss in wage earnings?
Is the economic damage temporary or will it affect future earnings as well?

Calculating The Accident Settlement Amounts

As noted previously, each case of personal injury presents different factors to consider in making a personal injury claim. This will affect how you calculate the amount for a personal injury. This being said, it is essential you consider receiving enough of a settlement to cover the following items:

Medical expenses – Be sure to consider both present and future costs
Suffering
The loss of your normal quality of life
Any loss wages
Any future wages lost from the personal injury
Property damage

Hiring A Lawyer

There are other costs. In order to obtain a just settlement to cover all of them, you will need to hire a lawyer. An experienced accident attorney will know exactly how to arrive at the right accident settlement amounts.

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