Average Payout for a Personal Injury Claim: Car Accident

Being the victim of a car accident can be one of the most stressful things we ever go through. There’s the immediate impact of the collision itself to consider, but healing from injuries and dealing with expenses and legalities can stretch on for months.

The average payout for a claim after a car accident under California’s personal injury law depends on many things. First, you have to establish if you have a case. Scranton Law Firm has an online quiz you can take to quickly establish whether your case is worth pursuing. If we believe you have a solid case, we can either meet you face to face or arrange a video call to discuss things further.

The amount you can expect your personal injury case to pay out also depends on the specifics of your car accident. Did you suffer from any injuries, such as whiplash? The amount you have had to pay for hospital and other healthcare bills really impacts how much the other party is willing to settle for. It may surprise you to find out that not all injuries are immediately apparent straight away. See our post on chiropractic care after a personal injury to find out why seeing a chiropractor could help further your case.

When it comes to personal injury cases, the longevity of any injuries is also a major factor in establishing the value of a potential car accident case. Cuts and grazes can be serious and may take a while to heal, but some back or neck injuries can take years to completely go away. Some accident victims never recover from their injuries. If you have a long-term illness or disability as a result of your personal injury, your case value may well increase drastically.

Your compensation payout also depends on how much damage was caused to your property. Although you can very well still have a case if your car is simply scratched and dented, there may be potential for a greater settlement if your car is totalled or you had other valuables on board, such as a laptop that has had to be replaced. See the California Department of Insurance website for more details.

We also consider whether you had to take any time off work due to your personal injury. This is especially important if you’re self-employed: the key is to collect as much evidence as possible so we can establish your precise loss of earnings.

With so many variables at play, it’s hard to say exactly how much you can expect to receive when your personal injury case is settled or goes to court. One thing’s for certain though: all of us here at Scranton Law will always do our best to make sure you get what’s owed to you.