One of the most common questions personal injury lawyers in Southwest Florida are asked when meeting with a new auto accident client is “how is my auto accident settlement going to be calculated?” Afterall, the settlement is the most important part of the whole ordeal; it’s what a person needs to get back to their life after an accident has occurred. Without that settlement they may be forced to pay for medical costs, property damage, lost work wages, or ongoing care out of their own pocket.
Most will wonder what the average auto accident settlement in Florida is and there is unfortunately no real answer to that. Every auto accident within the state is completely unique and your settlement amount will depend on your specific injuries, the vehicle that was being driven, the wages you make that are now lost, and if you’ll need ongoing care whatever that may be. For the “luckier” few this may be a lower number because they’ve lost less from the accident. For the unlucky, this number can range into the tens of thousands of dollars or more.
Because there is no real average figure to go on it’s important to look at your specific situation when calculating your accident settlement amount. Factors that will go into the calculation of your auto accident settlement are:
• Medical bills – Medical bills stemming from any accident-related injuries will typically make up the bulk of your settlement. This includes your initial checks, any surgeries or diagnostics you may have needed, and the cost of ongoing care if your injuries require it.
• Auto repair costs – Auto repair costs will be the next expense added to your settlement. If your vehicle was totaled, or if it could be repaired, the costs will go into your overall settlement amount.
• Financial losses – If your auto accident caused you to lose wages, caused you to need to hire a babysitter for your children while you were taking care of your accident-related injuries, or if you needed to hire a housekeeper until you could get back onto your own feet, these may be factored into your car accident settlement as well.
Proving Your Damages
In order to have these costs factored into your settlement, it’s important to be able to prove them. One cannot simply say “My medical bills are $10,000” without documentation to back it up. During your accident recovery process, make sure to save all bills, documents, invoices, and receipts to prove any expenses or damages you may be out due to your accident. You may wish to make copies of these documents to be sure you always have them in case one gets misplaced.
In addition to your medical bills, you’ll also want to save any diagnostics information you receive. Insurance providers will first and foremost want to lower your settlement as much as possible, typically claiming your injuries aren’t as severe as you suggest they are. Your X-rays, scans, and other diagnostic information should be provided as proof of the injuries you claim.
Enlisting The Help Of A Personal Injury Attorney
Your Southwest Florida personal injury attorney will be able to walk you step by step through the settlement calculations process. They’ll be able to let you know what pieces of proof you need, as well as organize this proof to ensure you’re able to get every penny of compensation you deserve.
If you have been involved in an accident in the Sarasota / Bradenton area on Florida’s west coast, contact the personal injury attorneys who have won more than $500 million dollars for their clients, and get your free case review today.