Minor Car Accident Settlement Amounts: What to Expect
Many car accidents are catastrophic; collisions cause serious injuries and take lives every day in the United States. But not every crash is so destructive. Many result in minor injuries and vehicle damage rather than years of pain, decreased quality of life, or families left grieving.
But even “minor” car accidents can create major challenges and cause significant losses for those involved. If you were in a minor crash, your vehicle may be out of commission for a while and need costly repairs. Your injuries may still lead to expensive medical treatment, and you may lose days or weeks of work and pay. If these burdens were someone else’s fault, you shouldn’t be the one to bear them.
That is why many minor car accidents lead to car accident lawsuits. And the overwhelming majority of car accident claims and lawsuits end in negotiated settlements between the injury victims and the negligent drivers’ auto insurance companies. So, what car accident settlement amount can you expect after a minor crash?
Types of Damages Recoverable in a Car Accident Lawsuit Settlement
A car accident settlement arising from either a catastrophic or minor accident usually reflects the kind of damages that a successful plaintiff could recover at trial. In a Maine car accident lawsuit, victims can recover compensation for two broad categories of losses: economic losses and non-economic losses.
Economic losses include readily quantifiable amounts typically reflected on bills, invoices, and paystubs, such as:
- Medical bills.
- Lost wages.
- Reduced earning capacity.
- Vehicle repair or replacement.
- Prescription drug costs.
- Physical therapy costs.
Non-economic losses, on the other hand, are more intangible, though just as real. They include such things as:
- Pain and suffering.
- Loss of quality of life.
- Loss of companionship.
How Much Will Your Minor Car Accident Settlement Be?
There is no “average” car accident, so there is no “average” car accident settlement amount. How much a victim receives in a settlement depends on the nature and extent of the losses they suffered. The best way to get a sense of how much you might recover in a minor car accident settlement is to meet with an experienced car accident lawyer. They can evaluate your case, review the facts and circumstances surrounding your accident, and catalog your economic and non-economic losses.
If you were in a minor car accident, don’t mistakenly assume that it’s not worth the trouble to meet with a lawyer. You may not know the extent of your losses, and you could be leaving thousands of dollars on the table. At Berman & Simmons, we offer free initial consultations and case evaluations, so there is no downside to speaking with one of our experienced car accident attorneys.
With unmatched resources and attorneys who bring decades of experience to car accident cases, Berman & Simmons has built a lengthy track record of success, obtaining over $1.35 billion in compensation for injury victims and their families.