If you were involved in a motor vehicle accident and you believe that the other party was responsible for the incident, then you can file an injury compensation claim and receive monetary damages.
Your personal injury claim may include personal injuries that you suffered, your subsequent pain and suffering, the damage to your vehicle and other expenses, such as lost wages or car rental fees, which you feel were a direct result of the accident.
In addition to contacting your auto insurance company and the police, you will also need to contact the other party’s auto insurance company so that you can file a claim.
The other party’s auto insurance company may offer you a monetary amount to settle the claim, and that amount may not be fair, so it is important to contact a personal injury lawyer who can inform you of your rights before you sign any forms.
Some facts about injury compensation regarding a motor vehicle accident:
• There is a statute of limitation, so it is important to immediately file the claim.
• Any amount over $5,000 can not be settled in a small claims court. Instead, you will need to be represented by an accident lawyer.
• Most accident lawyers do not receive payment until the case is settled and you receive monetary damages.
• Your injury claim as a result of the car accident may include expenses related to your medical treatment, your rehabilitation, or your loss of income due to an inability to work.
• Most car accident victims seek “compensatory damages,” which are damages meant to put you back into the same position you were before the car crash.
There are two types of compensatory damages: economic and non-economic. Economic damages are the loss of money as a result of the car accident. Non-economic damages typically cover the pain and suffering as a result of the car crash.
• Some injury compensation claims may also include punitive damages, particularly if the accident was the result of the other driver’s recklessness or irresponsibility.