Have you been hurt in a car accident in Montgomery, Alabama? Unfortunately, as the number of automobile accidents continues to rise across the United States, the injuries associated with them have become an all-too-frequent occurrence. The recovery time from an injury can take weeks or months, and pursuing a lengthy court process to receive car accident compensation can be a daunting challenge. With that in mind, you may be interested in how auto accident settlements are calculated to see if this is the right path for you to seek compensation for your injuries.

If you have been involved in a car accident, you need to contact a Montgomery, Alabama car accident attorney who can help you assess the case and calculate how much car accident compensation to which you may be entitled. The calculation for auto accident settlements is based off the records that you have collected since the accident, and it will be important that you prove you have followed every step correctly in dealing with your injury. Your car accident attorney will be able to provide a calculation of your settlement claim based on the following information.

Four-Step Process for Calculating Auto Accident Settlements

1. Obtain Records of Montgomery, AL Medical Expenses

Medical expenses are an important part of the calculation for car accident compensation, even if some were covered by insurance instead of being paid out of pocket. Medical expenses from a car accident can include the following costs:

• Hospital Visits and Ambulances
• Surgery, X-rays, Lab tests
• Physical therapy
• Prescriptions and Drugs
• Braces, Walkers, wheelchairs

Apart from the medical expenses that you’ve already incurred, you’ll want to include an estimate of the medical costs you expect to face in the future while you recover. If you require ongoing medical treatment for the injuries sustained in a car accident, include them in the total cost of your medical expenses.

1. Record Lost Earnings

It isn’t just medical bills that can hurt you financially; depending on the severity of the accident, you may have missed work because of your injuries. These lost earnings can be calculated as the sum of your lost income in a dollar amount. Just as with medical expenses, you’ll have to give an estimate of future work time that will be lost if your injuries require a prolonged recovery time.

1. Out of Pocket Expenses
   

   Those seeking auto accident settlements should reach out to The Vance Law Firm to find a lawyer to negotiate on their behalf.

You may also have paid sums of money out of your pocket as a result of the accident, like the cost of a taxi or rental car to provide transportation since your vehicle has been damaged. These expenses can also be factored into the injury claim, provided they were used with good reason.

1. Amount of Pain and Emotional Distress

Awards for pain and suffering can be hard to quantify, but an injury from a car accident can have a distinct impact on the quality of your prolonged physical and emotional well-being. If you are disabled by a car accident, the settlement for pain and distress should be factored into your settlement claim. The best way to track this is to keep a medical log and recount the state of pain as it changes from day to day, as well as the tasks you now find difficult to perform in your daily life like taking care of your children or lifting heavy objects.

Factors That Can Diminish Your Car Accident Claim

In court, the Montgomery, AL judge and the jury will typically look closely at medical bills to determine the amount of car accident compensation that you will be awarded. If the claim involves the damages to the vehicle itself, the car insurance provider will be the one to pay these damages.

There are a few factors that can diminish the strength of your claim. Traffic tickets are one such factor, as well as a DUI at the time of the accident. Additionally, if the insurance company determines that you were partially at fault, the amount of the settlement can be less. If you believe any of these situations apply to you, the attorneys of Vance Law can work with you.  

Contact a Montgomery Car Accident Attorney Today

If you have been hurt in a Montgomery, AL car accident, contact the attorneys of Vance Law Firm immediately for assistance in claiming your car accident compensation. The process for pursuing auto accident settlements can be lengthy, and when you’re injured, a court system can be the last thing you feel like taking on. The Vance Law Firm attorneys will work with you to receive the full extent of damages that you are owed, and get you back on your feet financially.