No car accident lawyer can predict exactly how much your case will be worth, as sometimes cases with similar circumstances settle for different amounts. What we do know is that auto insurance injury claims often settle at the policy limit [1]. The larger the policy limit, the larger the potential settlement amount.
Your legal representation matters to maximize your potential settlement. The average compensation from an insurance company for an auto accident with a lawyer is five times higher than without one [2]. The Chicago car accident attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers have experience securing multimillion-dollar settlements for our clients.
Read on to learn more about typical car accident settlement amounts, factors that will influence settlements, and what you can do to maximize how much you can expect to receive in your settlement for a car accident.
What Is the Average Car Accident Settlement?
The average bodily injury settlement is just around $24,211 [3]. The average settlement for property damage is $5,313. However, we are able to deliver much higher settlements for our clients: while our average car accident settlement is currently at $8,141,667, we have recovered up to $18.5 million for a car accident victim.
Average Car Accident Settlements Based on the Type of Injury
The type of injury sustained in a car accident also impacts the settlement amount. Some injuries are considered more life-altering and catastrophic and may benefit from higher average settlement amounts.
Neck and Back
The average settlement amount for a back or neck injury is between $100,000 and $500,000 [4].
Herniated Disc
The average claim for a herniated disc is between $20,000 and $150,000 [5]. This can be less than other types of back injuries, such as spinal cord injuries.
Concussion
The average settlement for a concussion is $33,423 [6]. This could be higher if there is also a traumatic brain injury.
Whiplash
The average settlement for car accidents that lead to whiplash ranges from $10,000 to $100,000 [7].
Fractures
Every settlement for bone fractures varies, especially based on which bone was broken. Verdicts from past cases have awarded different amounts. Here are some current auto accident settlements and verdicts based on the type of bone:
- Wrist/finger – $115,000
- Ribs/collar bone – $1,175,000
- Thigh bone – $1 million
- Hip – $1.1 million
Brain Injury
The median settlement for an Chicago auto accident claim for a traumatic brain injury is $1.7 million [8].Â
No Injury
Average settlement amounts for car accidents without injury range from $20,000 to $25,000 [9]. However, when surveyed, most people claimed they received less than $10,000 for their auto accident claims.
Which Factors Affect Car Accident Claim Settlements?
While an experienced personal injury attorney can give you feedback about your case and what it could be worth, no one can predict with certainty how much your car accident settlement will yield. However, there are some factors that are known to have an influence on car accident settlements.
Extent of Injuries
The type and severity of the injuries sustained in the car accident will have a large impact on the settlement amount. Cases with more severe injuries will settle for much more than cases with more minor injuries.
This isn’t to say that it isn’t worth filing an accident claim for bodily injuries that you will eventually recover from—simply that severe injuries, especially permanent injuries, will recover more compensation.
Extent of Losses
One of the most significant factors in a reasonable settlement offer for auto accidents is the medical bills and other financial losses you sustain.
A case with much higher medical expenses will most likely settle for a higher amount than a case with fewer medical bills will, and the extent of your financial losses will play a role in how much you are able to recover from your settlement.
The more medical expenses, lost wages, and damaged property you can claim, the more car accident compensation you can recover.
Insurance Coverage
What insurance coverage you have available will substantially impact your total settlement size. If your car accident involves auto liability insurance, you will likely see a higher payout through the insurance claim process than if you were in an auto accident with an uninsured motorist.
There are simply more resources available to pay your settlement from the insurance company. If you have uninsured motorist coverage on your own policy, this could help to recover compensation from your own insurance company.
Legal Representation
We know that car accident victims who retain legal representation fare better financially than victims who don’t.
Having an experienced personal injury attorney negotiate with the insurance company and build a strong case to succeed in court can make a big difference in a typical car accident settlement. Research continually supports the financial benefits of hiring professional legal representation.
What Kind of Damages Are Compensated in Car Accident Personal Injury Claims
Your lawyer can seek different types of damages in a settlement for a car accident, including economic and non-economic damages.
Economic
Economic damages describe your actual, tangible losses that are related to the serious injuries you sustained in your car accident. Some common forms of economic damages are as follows:
- Medical care – You can claim the cost of past or future medical treatment from the at-fault driver in motor vehicle accidents. These medical costs are tangible expenses that you can have added to the final settlement amount.
- Lost wages – If your shoulder injury caused you to miss out on a few weeks of work, a fair settlement would include lost wages to cover your losses.
- Property damage – You can seek compensation for any property that was damaged in your accident, whether you suffered from significant property damage or more minor property damage.
Non-Economic
Unlike economic damages, non-economic damages are not related to tangible expenses that are related to your car accident, like medical bills. Rather, these are awarded by the court based on intangible factors, such as pain. These typically include the following:
- Physical pain and suffering damages – Pain and suffering damages are among the most common forms of non-economic damages awarded in car accidents.
- Permanent disability – For car accidents that lead to permanent disabilities, victims can request non-economic compensation for becoming disabled in their car accident settlement.
- Disfigurement and scarring – Sometimes severe injuries tend to cause disfigurement or significant scarring that alters the appearance of victims.
Wrongful Death
If your loved one died in an auto accident, our Chicago wrongful death attorneys can help you file a lawsuit to recover these types of damages:
- Your loved one’s medical bills – You can seek compensation for your loved one’s medical bills in your lawsuit.
- Funeral expenses – It is possible to recoup money for burial and funeral expenses in wrongful death cases.
- Pain and suffering – Much like car accident victims are able to receive pain and suffering compensation, family members can receive compensation for their own pain and suffering.
- Loss of companionship – Other types of damages are available that represent the losses that families suffer after losing someone in a car accident.
How to Maximize a Car Accident Lawsuit Settlement
There are some things that a car accident lawyer from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can do to maximize settlements from car accidents:
- Negotiate for a higher accident settlement with the insurance company
- Gather evidence that can be difficult to obtain to strengthen your case, including working with experts for testimony and accident reconstruction specialists
- Research case law and past case settlements to ensure that any settlement offers that you receive are fair
- Work on your legal case while you focus on recovering from your accident injuries
- Prepare a strong case for court, in the event that negotiations before trial are unsuccessful in reaching maximum compensation
Who Can Pursue a Car Accident Personal Injury Claim?
Depending on the nature of the car accident, the claim can be filed by the following:
- Victims of car accidents
- Parents of an injured minor
- Spouse or adult children of deceased victim
Contact a Skilled Car Accident Attorney Today!
Contact the car accident attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers for a free consultation by filling out our contact form or calling toll-free at (888) 424-5757. A member of our legal team is available 24/7 to accept your call. We work on a contingency fee basis, so we do not collect any fees until we get you a settlement.
Resources: [1] Insurance Information Institute, [2] Gitnux, [3] iii, [4] Forbes, [5] Gitnux, [6] Gitnux, [7] Gitnux, [8] Gitnux, [9] Forbes
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