When an accident with a careless driver injures you, money damages may follow. You may be offered what is called a settlement before you ever have to take anyone to court. The amount of money you are offered depends on several factors.

What to Know About Accident Settlements

There is a very good reason why the vast majority of personal injury accidents settle out of court. You can be paid what you deserve and get on with your life in mere weeks instead of the many months that court cases can take to be resolved. It is important to know what you deserve, though, and many accident victims jump on the first offer the insurer for the other driver tenders. However, it makes sense to speak with a personal injury lawyer about your case so that you will have a better idea of how much you deserve to be paid and what you will need to meet your needs now and in the future. The amount you end up with depends on several factors.

Factors Affecting Your Personal Injury Settlement

• Your injuries – The more serious your injuries, the higher the payment will be. If you are permanently injured, you can expect to be paid several thousands of dollars. Even if your injuries are fairly minor, you deserve to be paid for your expenses.
• Medical expenses – The total dollar you were billed in medical expenses is a good indicator of how difficult your life became as a result of the accident. Your pain and suffering payment could be two, three, four, or five or more times the amount of your medical expenses.
• Evidence – Anything that supports fault or your damages is valuable. Common evidence in car accidents include photographs, video of the accident, police reports, medical records, and more. The more evidence that is available the stronger the case and the higher the compensation.
• Demographics – Your income, age, education, and more could come into the calculation. For example, if you are unable to work at your job because of the accident, a lifetime of missed earnings may need to be considered.
• Other settlements – Local area accident settlements with similar circumstances are part of the equation.
• Court cases – Like settlements, court outcomes are reviewed for comparison.

To find out how much your particular case is worth, or other related information, speak to a car accident attorney.