Factors that Increase a Car Accident Settlement

While many injury lawyers tend to highlight their big client settlement and jury verdict wins, the truth is that these amounts can vary. Wildly. Injury victims may walk away with a few hundred dollars or a few million. This is one reason why it’s difficult to craft a calculator or provide a simple online formula to give you an idea of how much your case is worth. 

Even so, we can tell you that there are certain things that are likely to increase the value of your case and your chances of a higher settlement. In our post today, we’d like to share some of those with you. 

• Insurance policy limits. One of the greatest determining factors is what insurance policies may apply to your case, and what those policy limits are. Suppose you’re hit by an uninsured motorist, and you don’t carry uninsured motorist coverage. You may be out of luck! On the other hand, if you’re hit by a commercial vehicle, the policy limits may be higher. 
• Evidence that proves liability. Many accidents or premises liability cases are a case of “he said, she said.” However, if you have video of exactly what happened or other solid evidence, chances of recovering a settlement improve since liability isn’t in dispute.
• Serious injuries. The greater your injury, the more likely it is to negatively impact your life and for a longer period of time. Examples of serious injuries might include broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and brain injuries. Most of these types of injuries require significant medical care such as surgery, hospitalization, ongoing physical therapy, and prescription medications.
• Permanent injuries. Settlements tend to be higher for permanent injuries. Examples of permanent injuries include prominent scarring, amputation, loss of vision, or paralysis. Injuries like these will have lifechanging consequences for the victims. 
• Significant medical bills. Substantial medical bills suggest that your injuries required extensive care to treat. This could substantiate your claim of pain and suffering.