From rear-end collisions to side-impact crashes, California car accidents can cause significant injury and damages.
As a result, you may find yourself struggling to afford medical treatment and vehicle damage repairs.
Fortunately, if the other driver is to blame, then you can file a claim with his or her insurance company to collect damages.
However, getting the money you need is not always easy. In fact, insurance companies are known to go to extraordinary links to reduce your claim and pay out as little as possible.
Therefore, before agreeing to any settlement, it is important to know what types of damages you can recover from a California car accident. When reviewing a settlement offer from the insurance company, be sure it includes money for the following:
Medical Expenses
The cost of recovering from your injuries can quickly escalate. For example, if your injuries suffered were severe, then you may need money for on-going care or disability. Thus, any settlement you accept should take all of your medical expenses into consideration, including past, present and future bills. Examples of medical expenses after a California car accident include:
- Physical therapy
- Surgeries
- Hospitalizations
- Ambulance fees
- Consultations with specialists
- Medical accessories and devices
- Disfigurement
- Permanent disability
- In-home services
- Long-term care
Pain and Suffering
Dissimilar to medical expenses, the cost of pain and suffering is not easy to measure. Since it is subjective, receiving the money you deserve is often difficult. Even still, your attorney can help you get compensation for the mental and emotional pain you suffered during and after the crash.
Lost Wages
Something that medical expenses and pain and suffering have in common is that they can keep a person out of work. As expected, not working can add a tremendous amount of stress to you and your family. Also, if your injuries are severe and permanent, then you can lose your ability to work in the future. Therefore, any settlement you accept should compensate you for lost wages, as well as any loss of future earnings. When determining a loss of future earnings a judge will consider several factors, including:
- Age
- Occupation
- Skill level
- Experience
- Life expectancy
- Injury severity
Loss of Affection or Companionship
A forgotten aspect of many personal injury cases is a loss of affection or companionship. For example, many married accident victims lose their ability to show affection or engage in sexual activity. This also includes losing the ability to maintain relationships. An experienced Fairfield car accident lawyer can build a case to show how your accident and injuries have adversely affected your marriage and relationships.
Property Damage
The vast majority of car accidents cause some level of property damage. Yet, other items in your car may have also sustained damages during the crash, including car seats, laptops and cellphones. Thus, any settlement offer you receive should adequately compensate you for all of your property damages, not just for car repairs.
Contact Our California Car Accident Attorneys
If you suffered an injury in a California car accident, then you need an attorney on your side. At Wells Call Injury Lawyers, we have decades of combined experience helping injured car accident survivors obtain the money they need to recover. To learn more about your legal options, call us today at (707) 425-0671 or fill out our confidential contact form. We offer free consultations, so please do not hesitate to reach out.