After a car accident with injuries, you probably wonder if you should call a car accident lawyer in Portland Oregon to help you settle your claim. If you have anything other than minor injuries that heal in a few days, you should strongly consider hiring a lawyer.
A car accident attorney will work with you to present every detail about the case to the insurance company or jury. He will bring up a lot of information about your medical condition and liability for the accident that you may not be aware of.
Auto insurance companies always try to get you to settle for the smallest possible amount. That is how the company makes its money. The insurance adjuster may try to show that your injuries were caused by something else, or that you had unnecessary treatments. If you do not have an attorney, it is highly likely you will get less money than you should.
A car accident lawyer in Portland Oregon will help you to present the strongest possible case to the insurance company, so it is usually a good idea to at least consult with an attorney after a serious accident.
How Much Can You Expect in a Car Accident Settlement?
All car accident cases with injuries are different, so it is hard to say what a ‘typical’ settlement is. Some legal experts say you can expect a settlement in many cases of about three times what your medical bills are. But many factors go into deciding what your settlement will be.
The insurance company or jury will look at the type of injury, how you were treated, how long your therapy was, loss of wages, and how severe the wreck was. Also, a major factor is a liability. If the other driver was 100% at fault, you can expect a higher settlement. If you were partially at fault, your settlement may be reduced according to your percentage of fault for the accident.
A settlement usually is not offered until all of your medical treatments have been completed. If you have permanent injuries, this will probably increase the compensation you receive.
How A Car Accident Settlement Is Calculated?
The auto insurance industry does not have a precise formula to determine the average car accident settlement amount. If you only had damage to your car, you will usually be reimbursed based on the limits of your policy.
If you are injured, pain and suffering compensation may be included. That is why it is critical to be seen by a doctor as soon as possible after the accident. You need to have a doctor carefully note what your injuries are and connect them to the accident that just occurred. The medical report will be an essential piece of evidence that will directly affect how much pain and suffering compensation you receive.
Being seen by a doctor immediately after the accident is especially important for injuries that are not obvious, such as whiplash. Whiplash hurts a lot, but soft tissue injuries in the neck do not show up on X-rays, so insurance companies are notorious for questioning these injuries. Make sure your doctor notes that you have neck pain after the accident.
As far as calculating your settlement, a good rule of thumb is to add up your expenses for your medical costs, car repairs, and lost earnings. If you have suffered considerable pain and suffering, multiply that number by three.
For instance, say you hurt your back in a car crash and paid $5,000 in medical bills. You did not work for a week and you lost $2,000 in wages. On average, you could see a car accident settlement of $21,000. The range might be between $14,000 and $28,000. You will get more money for more severe or permanent injuries. Your car accident personal injury lawyer in Portland Oregon will argue aggressively to get you the higher end of the settlement range and will present as much evidence as possible.
Next Steps:
If you have been hurt in a car accident, it is important to file a claim or a lawsuit quickly. You usually have one or two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. It also is important to file the claim quickly because if there were eyewitnesses, their memories may fade after a few weeks, so filing your lawsuit with an attorney fast is important.
