If you’ve recently been injured in a car accident as the result of another person’s negligence, you’re probably wondering if the coming settlement will be enough to cover doctor’s bills, replacing your transportation and all the other costs associated with your accident. Not to mention your loss of productivity as you recover from the accident. While each case is different, below are some aspects of your personal injury settlement that you should keep in mind.
Special Damages
Special damages refer to any monetary loss due to your accident. Many expenses–from out-of-pocket ambulance rides and co-pays to physical therapy and surgeries–can be recovered in your personal injury settlement. Your lawyer can advise you about what expenses to document and it is important to keep careful records because these specific expenses are taken into consideration when determining your settlement.
General Damages
General damages are the monetary values placed on the more intangible detriments of your personal injury case such as pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and/or emotional distress. When arriving at a value for your settlement, the adjusters and lawyers representing the at-fault driver will factor in discovery responses, your appearance in testimony and the severity of your injuries along with witness comments on your degree of suffering. The word of your doctor is also significant in determining the general damages portion of the average car accident settlement.
Loss of Income
If you’ve experienced severe injuries, you may find yourself in the unfortunate circumstance of being unable to work. If you have to miss work because of appointments or are forced to leave your employment entirely, you can recover lost income as part of your car accident settlement–including both past and future losses. You’ll need to bring information about your previous income (such as pay stubs or W-2s) to your lawyer in order to facilitate future claims. If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous position and/or force you to retrain or find another, lesser-paying job, your Las Vegas auto accident attorney can assist you in recovering these losses in your settlement.
In order to maximize your car accident settlement, it is important to keep meticulous records how the expenses your accident incurred and the loss of income that has resulted.
