How much should I expect from a car accident settlement in which I was hit and have multiple bulging disc as a result?
Once you have completed medical treatment, your case will be evaluated for settlement. Your history, medical expenses, wage loss, any necessary future treatment and wage loss, any permanent disability, and any comparative negligence will be factored into the evaluation, as well as examining the nature and severity of the accident and the extent of property damage.Based upon many years of claim experience, I am skeptical that you have bulging discs as result of an auto accident unless it was extremely severe. It is not uncommon to have pre-existing herniated or bulging discs that are asymptomatic. The individuals may discover the problem discs when they have x-rays following auto accidents that cause soft tissue injuries. They assume that the accidents caused the herniations. However, there must be direct cause and effect evidence before such injury is accepted as accident related.If you truly have bulging discs from the accident, you undoubtedly have been receiving medical treatment. Your current and past medical records will be obtained by the handling adjuster, as well as your medical bills, wage loss verification, and any other injury-related expenses. Your records may be reviewed by medical experts. You may be required to submit to an independent medical examination. The investigation may include surveillance of your activities and a complete and detailed background check. Prior accidents will be discovered and records from those accidents may be examined. Your family members may also be checked for claim history.Every case must be evaluated on its own merits. It’s impossible for anyone to evaluate your claim based upon the single sentence encompassing your question. If someone claims they can, they are bullshiting.
How much can I expect for my personal injury settlement?
It will depend first on how much liability coverage the girl carried. For instance, in Iowa the minimum is 20/40/15 ($20,000 bodily injury per person, $40,000 for bodily injury (all people in the vehicle, and $15,000 for property damage). So, if her maximum is $20,000 that is the most you can get for doctor's appointments, mileage to appointments, and pain & suffering. If the limits are higher, you can get more money. Also, if your own insurance policy has Uninsured/ Underinsured liability coverage you can sue your own policy for additional bills and suffering. Make sure you keep a record of all your doctor bills, lost work time, and mileage. After you are feeling better contact the insurance company if they haven't called you yet. If they call before you're ready to settle just tell them you are continuing to have problems and would they like to be direct-billed for your doctors' visits. (This will make them nervous...) You don't need a lawyer to settle. The rule of thumb is usually three times your medical bills for pain & suffering so if you're still in pain, continue to get treatments. Make sure they are paying both doctor's bills and puinitive damages prior to signing anything, including a check. Don't be too eager to settle, your pain could continue for a while and you should have two years to settle the claim. Also, they will "low ball" you on how much the settlement should be. Stand firm with them, they are liable period. Good luck!
What can I expect for a settlement from an accident, given my injuries?
Pain and suffering - lawyer will take about 40 to 55 percent of whatever is offered. Do NOT sign off on a completed medical release under any conditions, as whiplassh can cause medical problems later. Also if the hand does not work correctly if may affect you ability to do your job. If there was no malice or intent on the part of the responible person you may get as much as 10K, or less. If the other party was (for example) drunk and ticketed by the police for being at fault and not in control, you may get a little more. Do not expect to retire on this settlement. cost of medical and replacement or repair of vechicle is the responisblitily of the person who hit you. The lawyer should not touch this amount at all.
What can I expect from my car accident (personal injury) settlement??
Hi there!! I was in a head on collision in Italy in July (I was a passenger, both drivers were said to be at fault)...I'm an American who's been living in the U.K the past few years..Though this settlement is being handled in Italy, I wanted to know would occur settlement-wise had it happened in the US (partly to show my Italian lawyer)...I had a broken sternum (was only hospitalized one day) torn ligament in my toe and whiplash (the doctor said there was arthritis in my neck, not sure if that was bad translation or if it is the case)...I had to miss two weeks of work (since I'm a government contactor, am paid by the hour and have no sick leave or anything like that)...I have had severe anxiety driving sine then....My sternum is still sore and I am still experiencing shortness of breath but it has healed somewhat...Okay, that's all!! I just really have no experience with anything like this and was wondering what an outcome would be in a similar case in the U.S. Thanks much!!
How much settlement money for car accident?
We need more info. The amount of your medical bills is not the determining factor. How old are you? What kind of injury did you have? Have you been injured like that before? Any other complicating health factors? What kind of treatment and for how long? Did you miss time from work? How much? Don't listen to anyone who says three times your medicals. That is not the case. You could get less or even more depending on what you're dealing with. And no figure anyone here gives you will be what you end up getting paid. All claims are handled case-by-case. There's no set value. Addendum- First of all, a year of treatment for a sprain/strain is excessive. Soft tissue injuries usually resolve with NO treatment in 6-8 weeks, 12 worst case scenario. That is going to be your biggest hurdle settling this claim. Forgoing your wage loss, knowing it's just soft tissue, you can probably expect the pain and suffering to break down this way- 1-2k for the first month, 500-1,000 for the second, 500 for the third, and then- if they are nice enough to consider the other 9 months, about the same. I've handled claims for 16 years and I have never considered a full year of physical therapy for someone who didn't break something, have surgery, or both. To compromise, they might throw you something like 7500-10 if they really, really want to work this out with you. Basically though, this kind of injury is worth about 5k (assuming we're dealing solely with pain and suffering).
Auto Accident Personal Injury Settlement Advice?
I was involved in an accident on July 1, 2009. I was coming through an intersection (with a green light) and a vehicle coming in the opposite direction decided to pull out in front of me and make a left hand turn. I ended up hitting them. They were found at fault. I settled with my insurance company to cover the cost of my vehicle. Damages came to about $14, 500 and with that amount my car was totaled. My insurance company (Nationwide) gave me about $7,500, the other drivers insurance company offered me almost a thousand less. I was still financing, so the entire $7,500 paid for what I owed on my car. I then hired an attorney. I sustained a concussion (which I still encounter headaches from and it could continue for years), neck and back pain, lots of bruising, bumps and burns (from the air bags deploying), not to mention the emotional trauma I am STILL going through, I dove into a deep depression from it all. I have about $10,000 in medical expenses (physical therapy, doctors visits etc.) My claim has just now been passed over to the insurance company! What should I expect? What should I base my settlement amount off of? How do you determine how much you should be awarded for pain and suffering? I lost my job from the accident (because I had no car). It's been almost a year and I still have no car. Can't afford to buy one without a job and can't really get a job without a car (goes hand in hand). This wreck has put me through a lot. I hope and pray it's my last. Any advice? Anything I should go by when the insurance company comes to my lawyer with an offer? Any advice or suggestions is much, much appreciated! Thank you!
How much of a settlement should I expect from my auto accident?
I had an auto accident a year and a half ago. I have been undergoing treatment ever since. I am still going through treatment and may never stop going through treatment. The lawyer has received my dr's narrative report and has sent a demand letter to the at fault insurance. My injuries are as follows: 1. Headaches 2. Cervicalgia-Neck Pain 3. Cervical sprain/strain 4. Cervical disc displancement 5. Lumbalgia-low back pain 6. Lumbar radiculitis 7. Lumbar disc displacement (L4-5,L5-S1) 8. Annular Tear (L4-5, L5-S1) 9. Unspecified disc disorder of lumbar region 10.Airbag burns to upper arm, LEFT 11.Hip Pain 12.Pelvic/thigh pain 13.Leg Pain 14.Multiple abrasions 15.Numbness/tingling 16.Muscle Spasms 17.Sleep Disturbance My medical bills are in excess of $16,000 and increasing. I will be going to drs visits, getting injections, and taking medication for awhile, if not forever. Surgery is even a possibilty if I can get up the nerve to continue on with it. But from family experience, back surgery does not seem like a one time deal. They are always followed up with more surgeries, at least that is what I have observed. I'm just looking for an estimate as to what I should expect. Or maybe what is a good offer. My life has drastically changed since the accident. I mean I am only 24 years old and I already have extreme pain everyday of my life. There is not one day that goes by that I am not reminded of that terrible accident. I am just happy to be alive. But I do think I should expect some kind of compensation due to the negligence of the other driver, whom was driving a company vehicle. Thanks for any answers..just want opinions on what you all think would be considered a fair settlement. Again, thanks for your time!!
How much is my Personal injury settlement worth?
out of that 8000.00 are they paying your medical bills or do you have to pay them well I had a simular case like this and i only got 10,000.00 which the lawyer gets like a 33.3 percent of that off the top so you might end up with 5000.00 but i would take it to an aubutration first before the court cause it's not true the longer you wait the more they offer cause my case went on for 4 years and you will really get tired of waiting trust me and think about it a judge is going to listen to both sides of the case and make his judgement and he could offer you less then what they do... And after court you can appeal it but it takes so long to wait for another date and they can denie your appeal so if I was you I would have my lawyer tell them the lowest number you will go and then if they go for it take it cause car accidents you don't usually get jake out of.... Trust me i know been there done that and it was more of a pain then anything
What is the average $ in a Car Accident Settlement?
I work for a personal injury firm and it used to be three times your medicals, but lately it has gone down to about 2- 21/2 times your medicals. The insurance company will not offer you this usually unless you have attorney, and be mindful in most states you are going to have to pay your medical bills or if you have medical insurance or are on medicaid you will have to reimburse most of what they paid for your medicals out of your settlement. The fact that you did not attend physical therapy as you were directed will make your claim worth less in the eyes of the insurance company because you did not do as your doctor had advised. This is if you were not at fault in the accident, if you were any percentage at fault that will minimize your settlement also.
What is an average car accident settlement?
First. No settlement will be offered or made until you are completely finished with medical care. So when you speak with the insurance company tell them you are still having medical treatment. There is no such thing as an "average" settlement. There are no formulas, there are no charts. Each case is unique. You don't need a lawyer, (yet) wait for their offer and if you think it is too low, make a counter offer. If you can't reach agreement, then you may want to consider a lawyer......BUT ! A lawyer will take 1/3 of any settlement PLUS expenses (he will typically end up with most of the settlement) and will cause any settlement to drag on for years. The insurance company's' first offer will typically be low because they are "testing the waters". Be confident, be firm. I suggest that you have a savvy older trusted person help you when they make their offer(s). Has the other company accepted liability? Despite what so many people believe, cops do NOT determine liability. ONLY the involved insurance companies can, do and will determine liability. I am fairly certain that the police report does not say this: "Even in the Police report it had her at fault". If it does, it means absolutely nothing !