Most car accident cases in Minot are settled outside of court. The parties negotiate a car accident settlement to resolve the dispute. The insurance company pays the victim in exchange for the victim releasing all claims against all parties. Once you sign a car accident settlement, you give up your right to file a lawsuit. Therefore, it is crucial to know what is included in a car accident settlement and if your settlement offer is fair.
When you meet with our Minot car accident attorneys, they review your case and discuss the damages you may be entitled to receive, such as:
Medical Bills and Expenses
Medical bills and expenses can total tens of thousands of dollars. If you sustain a disability, you may require ongoing for the rest of your life. Your settlement should include an amount equal to the cost of all past and future medical treatment.
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
Accident injuries may require you to be out of work for several weeks or months. Catastrophic injuries could prevent you from returning to work permanently. Loss of income includes past and future lost wages. It also includes reductions in future earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to work.
Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Economic damages also include other expenses related to the accident. These expenses may include:
- Travel expenses to and from medical appointments
- The cost of childcare if your injuries prevent you from caring for your children
- Help with household chores you cannot perform
- Long-term personal or nursing care
- Medical devices and supplies, including over-the-counter and prescription medications
Out-of-pocket expenses could also include modifications to your home or car because of a permanent impairment. You may also receive other expenses if you can prove they are related to the accident, your injuries, or your recovery.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering damages include the physical discomfort, emotional distress, and mental anguish you experience because of an accident or injury. Traumatic events and injuries can cause numerous psychological conditions, including:
- PTSD (post-traumatic disorder)
- Depression
- Severe anxiety
- Chronic pain
- Overwhelming fear
Proving non-economic damages can be challenging. Keeping a journal with details about your recovery can be helpful. Write notes about your daily struggles, including pain, emotional suffering, and activities you cannot perform.
Permanent Impairments and Disfigurement
Non-economic damages also compensate accident victims for impairments, disabilities, scarring, and disfigurement. The amount received depends on the severity of the condition.
Diminished Quality of Life
Injuries can reduce a person’s quality of life. The reduction may be temporary or permanent. The value of this type of damage depends on your quality of life before the accident compared to your enjoyment of life after the accident, given your disabilities and impairments.
Calculating the Value of Damages for a Car Accident Settlement in Minot, ND
Economic damages are relatively straightforward unless you are dealing with future damages. The value of your economic damages is the value of the losses or expenses you incurred. However, for future financial damages, you may need to hire an economist, financial professional, medical specialists, and other experts to assist in valuing damages.
Putting a value on pain and suffering is much more difficult. Non-economic damages may be valued using a per diem method or multiplier method. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you determine which method is best for your case and the maximum value to claim for pain and suffering.
Schedule a Consultation with Our Minot Car Accident Attorneys for More Information
Your car accident settlement could be worth more than the insurance company offers. Contact Pringle & Herigstad, P.C. to discuss the value of your damages with our Minot cart accident attorneys. Let’s work together to ensure the offer is fair, given the facts of your case.
