If you have been in a car accident and the other person was found at fault, you may have spoken with an insurance claims adjuster, either over the phone or in person. The job of the claims adjuster is to try to limit the liability of the insurance company, and to get you to take the lowest settlement possible. If you are about to receive a settlement offer, or if you have already received an offer from the insurance company, or any party that was responsible for your accident, how do you know when it is fair and how can you be sure that you are getting the maximum amount that you are entitled to.
Your first step in making sure that you settlement is fair is to get an attorney. An attorney that is experienced in car accident litigation and has done many personal injury cases can help you determine how much you should be receiving and if you should hold out for a higher offer, demand a higher offer or take the one that has been given to you. This comes from dealing with many similar cases, and knowing what past cases have been settled for or awarded, and only a qualified personal injury attorney will be able to tell you when your settlement is the best you are likely to get.
Any settlement that you are going to get may include both economic and non economic damages. Economic damages are defined as those damages that actually cost you money and thus are reimbursed for. For instance, economic damages may include medical bills, physical therapy, cost of medication, cost of surgery or long term care as well as auto repair damages, compensation for towing and storage bills for your vehicle, or in some cases the entire cost of the vehicle itself. This can also include other miscellaneous fees and charges.
Non Economic damages are those that are paid for intangible things like the pain that you are going through right now, or did go through when you had the accident, as well as pain that you will suffer in the future. It may also include mental anguish and loss of the quality of life. In wrongful death cases, the non economic damages may include compensation for loss of companionship, or teaching from a parent or family member. Non economic damages are harder to estimate but your attorney should be able to give you an idea how much you might be able to receive.
Newport Beach Personal Injury Attorney Emery Ledger has experience in these type of cases. With years of personal injury and car accident law practiced, you can trust that your case will be handled professionally, and that you will be able to collect damages that are fair. California accident law firm Ledger & Associates understands that a car accident changes your life and that you should receive compensation for the negligence and carelessness of another driver that caused a collision, and you may not have to pay anything at all unless money is recovered for you.
