Geico Insured The At Fault Driver
I sent GEICO a letter to GEICO asking them to tell me the at fault drivers insurance limits.
When I make a claim against my clients uninsured motorist insurance coverage, I send a different letter.
In most cases, I like to make sure that a claim has already been set up with GEICO before sending my request for their insurance limits.
Why?
My letter gets to the correct adjuster faster.
GEICO paid its $100,000 BI insurance limits about three months after the collision.
As you can see, 90% of this settlement was for pain and suffering:
When a car insurance company makes you a settlement offer, they do not factor in your attorney fees.
The rest of this $100,000 payout was for her out of pocket medical bills and health insurance lien.
After my attorneys fees, costs, and paying off Saras medical bills and health insurance liens, she got $56,504 in her pocket.
Saras settlement was a little less than 10 times her final medical bills and health insurance lien.
She was very happy with her settlement.
How Do Insurance Companies Calculate Settlements
Even though you may have submitted your actual medical bills, you may be surprised to learn that you might get an offer that is less than what you owe. That can happen because adjusters use formulas and averages that determine how much a particular type of injury should cost.
Some insurance companies also use special computer programs such as Colossus. Colossus is a computer program that calculates how much should be paid on a specific type of injury. Many of the large insurance companies use this program to compute settlements.
What Types Of Injuries Typically Result In The Largest Car Accident Settlements
While the average car accident settlement depends on several factors, head and back injuries usually result in a higher settlement.
At Nova Legal Funding, our internal research finds that clients who need a spinal fusion surgery due to herniated discs on average recover anywhere between $300,000 and $600,000.
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What Is The Average Settlement For A Car Accident With Whiplash
A car accident that caused whiplash will often receive a settlement ranging between $10,00 and $20,000. Whiplash is a painful injury that deserves compensation that will cover your medical expenses, prescription medication, overnight stays at the hospital, physical therapy, and more.
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Factors That Must Be Considered When Valuing A Car Accident Case
The value of your car accident case may be difficult to determine as there are several factors that will influence the final amount. Insurance policy limits can be the main obstacle, as we will explain further below.
Other factors that may influence car accident case settlement values include:
- Who is at fault for causing the accident
- Whether the victim was wearing a seat belt
- Permanency and severity of injuries
- Extent of property damage, including the car
Typically, a jury or the insurance company will determine the value of your case. Make sure you retain a competent Arizona car accident lawyer as soon as possible after an accident to maximize your chances of obtaining a favorable outcome. You only have two years from the date of the accident to file a car accident lawsuit in Arizona, and there can be only one settlement.
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How Long Does A Car Accident Settlement Take
Theres no exact time frame for the length of car accident settlements. It generally takes anywhere from a couple weeks to several months or years for a car accident case to be settled.
The amount of time it takes to determine the typical car accident settlement amount often depends on the severity of the collision and the requested compensation. The larger the damages, the more time you could take fighting for a fair payout.
% Of The Car Accident Settlement Was For Pain And Suffering
When Eugene rented the car, he did not list Ashley as an additional driver. And since Ashley wasnt married to Eugene, Sedgwick did not offer bodily injury liability coverage above $10,000. Unfortunately, this is the law.
This is true even though Eugune purchased Additional Liability Insurance with Avis.
In January 2020, I reached a car accident settlement with Sedgwick for its $10,000 policy limits. Here is the check:
This is the most that we could get. Unfortunately, there was no other additional insurance available. Approximately $7,400 of the total settlement was for Lamars pain and suffering.
After my attorneys fees and costs, and paying his medical bills, Lamar got over $4,000 in his pocket. And his attorney did all the work. He was very happy with the car accident settlement.
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What Are The Most Common Car Accident Injuries
Car accident injuries range anywhere from minor scrapes and bruises to permanent disability. Typically, the most common injuries people sustain in a car crash are:
- Knee injuries, and
- Post-traumatic stress disorder.
Since the severity of your injuries affects your car accident settlement amount, make sure you get examined by a doctor as soon as possible after an accident. You may not feel some injuries until days or even weeks after the crash.
$125k Car Accident Injury Settlement
Richie was a police officer. He was driving his police car in Miami, Florida. Another driver failed to yield at a stop sign and T-boned him.
Richies car sustained big damage in the crash. A tow driver removed it from the scene.
After the accident, his police cruiser looked like this:
The airbag deployed in his car.
As you can see, it cut his head:
However, he did not need stitches.
As a result of the crash, he broke a bone in his hand . To be exact, he fractured his fifth metacarpal. This is what the 5th metacarpal looks like:
A doctor operated on his hand. Richie did not want to handle his car accident claim without a lawyer. He had heard that car insurance companies take advantage of people who dont have a lawyer.
Thus, he got a free consultation with me. He hired me. GEICO insured the other driver. GEICO made a first offer to settle of $81,000.
After intense negotiation, I settled his personal injury case with GEICO for $125,000.
After my attorneys fees, costs and paying back his workers compensation insurer, Richie got a check for .
Richie was very happy with the amount of his car accident injury settlement.
Take a look at his glowing smile:
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Examples Of New York Car Accident Settlement Amounts In Injury Cases
Since no two cases are alike, its hard to determine the average car accident settlement, but here are some examples of settlements and prior results the law firm of ODwyer & Bernstien has successfully negotiated or argued for our clients. Its possible youll receive a similar outcome in your injury claim.
Enlist The Help Of A Qualified Attorney Today
If youve been searching for a qualified, experienced personal injury attorney, look no further than Ladah Law Firm, PLLC. We have considerable experience with a wide range of accident cases, and we have helped numerous injury victims recover substantial settlements over the years. Our entire team is passionate about helping you get the settlement you need and deserve.
Some of our accident & injury settlements in the past have helped victims considerably. In many cases, we have recovered tens of millions of dollars for our plaintiffs. This includes a $45-million settlement for a wrongful death motorcycle collision lawsuit, and an $11-million settlement for a small boy who suffered a head injury due to property owner negligence. Other examples include a $10-million settlement for a woman injured in a trucking accident, a $6.4-million settlement for a shooting injury, and a $5-million settlement for a spinal cord car crash injury. The list goes on. We have helped countless individuals recover million-dollar settlements.
No one deserves to suffer unnecessarily, especially if they are trying to pay for medical expenses while unable to work. If someone else was to blame for your accident, you deserve to take legal action. Reach out to Ladah Law Firm at your earliest convenience, and we can help you reach a positive legal outcome.
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$37500 Car Accident Injury Settlement
A passenger was in a car. Another driver crashed into the car that he was in. As a result, he broke his wrist. Specifically, he had a surgery to fix his distal radius fracture. After the car accident, he hired me as his lawyer.
State Farm, Allstate and a car owner paid me $37,500 for this car accident injury settlement amount.
What To Do If You Are Offered A Low Settlement
Insurance companies are in business to make a profit, so you can be sure that they want to settle claims for as little as possible. They may try to make you a quick settlement offer that will sound tempting, especially when you are in need of money after your accident. However, it can be a mistake to take this first settlement offer.
If an offer is too low, do not agree to it and do not cash the check. If the situation arises you may be better off negotiating a larger settlement. You can accomplish this more easily with help from an Atlanta car accident attorney.
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$90k Car Accident Injury Settlement
In May 2019, Alice was walking as a pedestrian in South Florida. Sofia was driving a car. Sofias car hit Alice. Progressive insured Sofia. After the accident, Sofia called 911. Paramedics came to the scene.
She complained of leg and pain to her face around her eye. Her glasses broke in the fall. They took Alice to the hospital.
They took a CT scan of her head. However, it did not show that she had a head injury. Ultimately, an x-ray showed that she had a fracture of the distal fibula.
This is the part of the smaller lower leg bone that is closer to the ankle. Basically, she had an ankle fracture.
But that was not it. Additionally, I settled another case for $65,000 where a pedestrian was hit by a car and broke his ankle. She also saw our . She called me and got a Free consultation to see if I could represent her relative. Next, she recommended to Alice that she hire me.
Alice called me. After we spoke, she immediately hired me.
I quickly jumped into action. We requested Progressives insurance limits. I requested the audio recording of the 911 call. On the call, the driver said that she had an accident. Sofia said that Alice walked into her car.
What Factors Affect A Car Accident Settlements Value
There is no one-size-fits-all situation when it comes to car accident settlements. Out of court settlements from accidents can be negotiated by your attorney. If the case goes to trial, the jury will consider economic and non-economic damages, including punitive damages if the accident was caused by factors that could have been otherwise prevented. The following factors will be considered in cases being tried in court:
- Who caused the accident? In New York State, a percentage of an accident is usually assigned. In other words, it may be determined one party was 85% at fault while the other 15%. This is known as pure comparative negligence. This can affect the amount awarded in a settlement.
- What is the cost associated with medical treatment? Documentation associated with all medical expenses during and after the accident will have to be demonstrated.
- How much property damage was caused? A court of law will consider the monetary amount assigned to any property damaged in the car crash.
- How severe are any injuries? Settlements are largely determined by the severity of an injury. Serious, permanent, or chronic injuries will receive more money than a minor injury would.
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Types Of Car Crash Injuries And Compensation That You Could Be Entitled To
A car accident has the potential to cause many different types of injuries. Some of the most common injuries in car accidents tend to include:
- Joint, muscle, back, neck, and bone injuries.
- Permanent disability.
The Law Place will help you to recover compensation for any types of injuries, damages, and losses incurred following your car crash. A personal injury lawyer will negotiate with the insurance company of the at-fault driver and make sure that you receive the best settlement offer possible. Rest assured that we will not let any of your injuries go without being fully compensated for, and we will fight any insurance company that tries to reduce your payout.
Remember to share every piece of information and detail about your car accident with your personal injury lawyer so that they can develop a strong case.
Factors That Affect Your Back Or Neck Injury Settlement
There are many factors that will affect the amount of your back and neck injury settlement. As such, the amount you can receive may vary greatly from the average settlement amount. Instead of thinking in terms of average settlements, it is important to consider how much YOUR case is worth.
Any settlement you receive is unique to YOUR situation. No two cases are ever the same.
Many factors will affect the amount you can receive in a back or neck settlement. Some of those factors include:
- The nature and severity of your injury
- Other drivers liability
- Insurance policy limits
- Your attorneys ability to negotiate
One of the biggest factors in the neck or back settlement you can receive is your attorneys ability to negotiate maximum compensation. Insurance companies may try to claim that you already had back or neck injuries. These pre-existing injuries may be used to try and reduce your claim.
Our attorneys know how to combat these tactics. We will work with your medical team to show insurance companies how your accident furthered your already existing injuries and/or caused new ones. We will gather the necessary evidence to show liability and build your case, which often includes police reports, witness statements, traffic surveillance footage, and doctors reports.
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$10k Car Accident Settlement
In March 2019, Lamar was driving his car in a Wendys drive thru lane in Oakland Park, Broward County, Florida.
Joan was driving a car and crashed into the back of Lamars car. After the crash, Lamar took this photo of the damage to his car.
As you can see from the photo, this was a big hit.
Ive repeated this over and over:
Big property damage often leads to a bigger car accident settlement.
On the crash report, the owner of the car that Ashley was driving was PV Holding. PV Holding is the parent company for Avis Rent a Car.
After the car accident, Lamar went to the hospital. He then followed up with a doctor and got therapy.
Segwick handled the claim for Avis Car Rental. I sent a letter requesting the bodily injury liability coverage on the rental car.
Avis responded with their insurance disclosure under oath. We learned that Ashley was not the person who rented the car. Eugene had rented the car.
Average Settlements For Car Accident Claims
In the United States alone, there are nearly 290 million registered vehicles. So it should be no surprise when fenders and other parts of them are bent to varying degrees.
According to , the average settlement for a car accident in the United States is $8,200.
However, this number can vary widely based on your location, injuries, parties involved, and severity of negligence.
For example, in an accident with injuries, Martindale-Nolo found that the average settlement or award is $29,700.
Each automobile accident is unique. Calculating settlement values can give you an idea of the potential value of your settlement, but you should not limit yourself to that figure.
In this article, weâve taken a deep dive into average car accident settlements and what you might anticipate for your case.
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How Is A Car Accident Settlement Paid Out
If you agree to a settlement following a car accident rather than pursue damages via a personal injury lawsuit, you may have the option to receive compensation in a single lump sum or a structured settlement where payments are dispersed gradually.
Which settlement structure is best for you depends on your individual circumstances. Consult with your attorney to determine whether a lump sum payment or structured settlement is right for you based on your situation.
Just keep in mind that once you agree to how the settlement will be paid, thats that. The terms cannot be changed later on.
What Is The Most Critical Evidence In A Car Accident Injury Case
The most critical evidence in a car accident injury case are photographs, medical records, and witness testimonies. To win your case, you must prove that the other driver acted negligently and, as a result, caused your injuries or damages.
Medical records, including treatment statements from your doctor, help show the severity of your injuries, while photographs and witnesses serve as visual and testimonial evidence of who is at-fault in your accident.
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How Much To Expect From A Car Accident Settlement
It is common for injured accident victims to have lots of questions about a car accident claim. Oftentimes, the questions are aimed at the same point: How Much to Expect from a Car Accident Settlement? This how much? question is the most pressing issue our clients have. And it should be. As daunting as the situation seems as a whole, if you take a moment to step back and examine the matter a little more slowly, you can find some clarity and know just how much you deserve after your accident.