You’re probably dealing with a mountain of expenses after a car accident. You might feel like financial relief can’t come soon enough for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. If someone else’s negligence hurt you, you can recover compensation through a personal injury claim or lawsuit. However, you should be aware of the most significant factors that could influence the case outcome.
Here are six factors that may affect your compensation after a car accident in Alabama:
1. Type and Extent of Your Injuries
One of the biggest determining factors of compensation in personal injury cases is the type and severity of injuries the victim suffered. Some mild injuries, such as a minor contusion, may heal quickly. Others, such as traumatic brain injuries, may be more significant or cause permanent damage.
Accident victims with more severe injuries and damages will typically have higher settlements. However, that doesn’t mean those with more minor injuries aren’t also entitled to damages. A personal injury lawyer can help you prove your injuries. They can even enlist the help of medical experts to support your claim.
2. Prognosis and Future Expenses
Another major component of a car accident settlement is the anticipated expenses and impact on your quality of life. Generally, victims with permanent injuries may be able to recover more than those with less severe injuries.
For example, if you suffered a broken bone that fully heals, that injury is not permanent. But say an accident left you paralyzed or resulted in the loss of a limb. In that case, you could require long-term treatment. You might also be completely unable to work.
If a severe injury changes your life forever, you deserve compensation to help you deal with the financial, physical, and emotional changes.
3. Other Economic Damages
Economic damages are a victim’s financial losses incurred due to their injury. These damages are direct costs for expenses, including:
- Medical bills (current and future)
- Property damages
- Lost wages
- Household services and assisted living care
Since economic damages can be more directly valued with receipts and invoices, keeping organized records of everything you pay for related to the accident is crucial.
4. Non-Economic Damages
Beyond physical injuries, the trauma of a car accident can impact your mental and emotional health. Car accident victims often experience psychological disorders. These can include depression and anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and new phobias of driving or cars. Severe physical injuries, such as brain injuries, can also cause changes in mood or personality.
Car crash victims are entitled to damages for these emotional injuries, known as non-economic damages. Damages for pain and suffering also fall into this category. These losses are subjective and can’t easily be tied to a dollar amount. Your personal injury attorney will help you calculate your case’s full value, including non-economic damages.
5. The Vehicles and Insurance Involved
While the at-fault party’s insurance company usually pays for damages in an Alabama car accident, things can get complicated if an 18-wheeler is involved. The size and weight of large trucks can cause devastating injuries. The higher insurance policy limits carried by trucking companies can also affect the outcome of your case.
Proving liability in a truck accident case is no easy task. If your accident involved a semi-truck, you need the help of an attorney with a record of success going up against trucking companies and their lawyers.
6. The Strength of Your Case
Your compensation after a car accident relies on proving the other party’s fault and the extent of your damages. To make a successful recovery, you and your car accident lawyer need evidence, such as:
- Photos and video of the crash scene
- Copies of the crash report
- Witness statements
- Documentation of economic damages, such as medical bills
- Testimony from witnesses, medical experts, etc.
In addition to hard evidence, other questions can impact the outcome of your case. Suppose you waited to go to the doctor because your injuries weren’t apparent right away. The insurance company might use that to argue you aren’t hurt as badly as you claim.
Even if fault in your accident seems clear-cut, don’t sign anything from the insurance company without talking to a lawyer first. Anything you say could be used against you later.
An experienced car accident attorney will help you build the most robust case possible and advocate for your best interests each step of the way.
