While car accidents are different for everyone, most people who are involved in a car accident can agree that no matter what, the aftermath of a car accident is stressful.
What's more, many people who have been involved in a crash will tell you that one of the most confusing parts of life after a crash is knowing what their car accident claim is worth.
If you’ve been wondering, “What’s the average auto accident personal injury settlement?”, our lawyers can help to answer this question and others.
The first thing that you should know is that what’s “average” doesn’t really matter – car accident settlements differ significantly depending upon numerous different factors.
That being said, one thing that you can do to improve the chances of recovering your maximum settlement amount is to partner with a skilled auto accident attorney in Georgia.
Here’s what you should know about the “average” settlement for a car accident in Georgia–
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After a car accident, it is important to obtain a copy of the police report because this can be an essential piece of evidence to when it comes to your car accident settlement. Click Here To Learn More.
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Factors that Affect a Car Accident Settlement
The first thing that you should understand is that there are numerous different factors that affect the value of a car accident claim and ultimately the settlement that an insurance company will offer. These factors include:
Economic Damages
One thing that will have a large effect on the amount of your recoverable damages is the degree of economic damages that you have suffered in a crash.
Economic damages are those damages that are actually economic and financial in nature and have an actual economic value.
For example, the value of your property damage expenses, medical expenses, and lost wages are all economic damages types. Usually, the more you have suffered financially, the larger your settlement will be.
Noneconomic Damages
In addition to economic damages, you may also be able to recover compensation for non-economic damages. Non-economic damages are losses for pain, suffering, emotional distress, diminished quality of life, etc.
Again, the more significant and serious these losses are, the greater–most likely–that your settlement offer will be.
Fault
If you are involved in a crash in Georgia, who was at fault for the accident will have a major effect on your recovery.
Georgia is an at-fault car insurance state, which means that the driver who causes an accident must pay for resulting damages.
If you weren’t at fault at all, this means that you can file a claim against the insurance company of the responsible driver seeking 100 percent of your losses.
If you were at fault, though, you may be unable to seek compensation, or your damages award could be reduced in proportion to your degree of fault.
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Insurance Policies
Even if you weren’t to blame for your accident and have suffered very significant damages, if there isn’t insurance coverage in place, or if you don’t have enough insurance to cover the full extent of your damages, you may be out of luck.
This is why being in an accident with a hit-and-run or an uninsured driver can be so devastating. When you work with a Georgia car accident attorney, your attorney will work hard to identify all potential sources of recovery.
Negotiation Skills
Finally, know that an insurance adjuster will likely low-ball your settlement, to begin with, and the only thing that may affect how much you ultimately walk away with could be your ability to negotiate for a higher settlement.
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What Can I Do to Improve the Value of My Georgia Car Accident Settlement?
In order to improve the value of your Georgia car accident settlement, there are a number of different things that you can do. These include:
- Do not admit fault – the second that you admit fault, your claim will be diminished in value;
- Do not sign anything – don’t sign anything given to you by an insurance company without having it reviewed by an attorney first;
- Follow your doctor’s instructions – if you fail to follow your doctor’s orders, this could be used against you to devalue your claim;
- Stick to the facts – lying or hyperbolizing will only detract from the value of your story, and maybe cause for an insurer to doubt other (true) things that you say; and
- Hire an attorney – working with a skilled legal professional who has experience negotiating and litigating claims is one of the best ways that you can preserve your right to your full compensation award.
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Our Georgia Car Accident Attorneys Are Here to Serve You
Being harmed in a crash is an unsettling experience and one that may leave you with any questions about the future and what happens next.
When you call the Georgia car accident attorneys at the office of Pritchard Injury Firm, we can help you to understand the average settlement for a car accident in Georgia, file your claim, and negotiate for your full settlement award.
To schedule a consultation, please call our law office directly today.