Maison Law Accident and Injury Lawyers of Fremont helps people when they’re hurt in a car accident. One of the most common questions we hear is simple: how much can you get in a car accident settlement for your injuries? Whether it’s a back injury or another type of harm, car accidents can be complicated. Our team is here to help you build a strong claim and understand what to expect. Contact us today to set up a free, no-obligation consultation.
How Much is the Average Car Accident Settlement for Injuries in Fremont?
In Fremont (as in other places in California), there’s no set amount for car accident settlements. Every case is different, and while injuries are common, recovery times and accident circumstances always vary. This, in turn, impacts how much you can get in a settlement. That said, though, every claim has several key factors that you can use to figure out the potential value of your particular settlement:
- Medical expenses – Injuries require medical treatment, including emergency care, MRIs, physical therapy, medications, and sometimes surgery. If you need ongoing care, those costs will be factored into your claim.
- Lost income – If your injury keeps you from working, you can seek compensation for lost income. If it affects your ability to work long-term, you may also receive damages for reduced earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering – Certain injuries can cause serious pain, limited mobility, and mental anguish. Your settlement will include financial support for these daily struggles.
- Long-term impact – Some injuries lead to chronic pain or permanent disability, negatively impacting your quality of life. These long-term effects are considered in your claim.
- Effects on relationships – Severe injuries can make it harder on both you and your loved ones. Part of your settlement will include costs relating to this loss of companionship.
- Property damage – If your car or other belongings were damaged, you can claim repair or replacement costs.
- Punitive damages – If the other driver was extremely negligent–such as driving under the influence–you might get additional damages as a way of punishing the driver.
- Shared fault – California’s comparative negligence rule means your settlement can be reduced if you were partially at fault. For example, if you were 10% responsible, your total award would be reduced by 10%.
Settlement amounts vary, but injuries can have lasting effects. Generally, the more serious your injury, the more you can get in damages. However, you have to actually go through the claims process to get this settlement check.
How Can You Get a Settlement After a Car Accident?
Obviously, the aftermath of a car accident is pretty scary. When you’re dealing with injuries, pain, or other losses, you have the ability to file an injury claim and recover “damages”, which is the financial support that makes up your settlement. To do this, you can either file:
- An insurance claim
- A personal injury lawsuit
Before filing a claim, though, you need to figure out who actually pays for these damages. And that means showing that the other driver’s negligence caused the accident that injured you. This could involve things like:
- Speeding or reckless driving
- Distracted driving
- Failing to follow traffic laws or signals
Insurance claims are usually faster, but keep in mind that insurance companies aim to pay out as little as possible. If a settlement offer doesn’t cover your costs, a lawsuit may provide a better outcome because a judge oversees the process.
Regardless of which route you take, your settlement is going to be made up of all the things we talked about above, including:
- Medical expenses for doctor visits, therapy, and medications
- Lost income from missed work, or a loss of earning potential if you can’t work anymore
- Pain and suffering for physical pain and emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life if your injuries affect your daily activities
Taking action quickly can strengthen your case, because it lets you gather important evidence and information that ties your injuries and the accident together. This is also important for legal reasons–in Fremont, you only have two years from the date of the accident to file your claim. If you miss this deadline, you lose your right to file a claim and get damages.
Maison Law Accident and Injury Lawyers of Fremont Helps Car Accident Victims
If you’ve been hurt in a car accident in Fremont, getting legal guidance can make a big difference. Here’s how our car accident lawyers at Maison Law Accident and Injury Lawyers of Fremont can help:
- Figuring out fault – We’ll investigate the accident and explain your legal options.
- Gathering evidence – Our team will help collect key evidence like medical records, witness statements, and accident scene photos.
- Handling insurance negotiations – Dealing with insurance companies can be difficult. We’ll take care of the negotiations to make sure you get a fair settlement.
- Providing support – The claims process can be long and drawn out sometimes, but our team will be with you from start to finish so you can focus on recovery while we handle the legal details.
Car accident injuries can have lasting effects, but you don’t have to go through the process alone. Contact us today for a free consultation, and let’s work toward the settlement you need to get better.