What Is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident?

The average settlement for a car accident in Georgia varies based on the severity of your injuries and the extent of your damages. In general, the settlement amount often ranges from a few thousand dollars to several hundred thousand dollars, if not more.

If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s natural to wonder how much you can expect to receive as a settlement from the insurance company. However, it’s not always a straightforward answer since each case is different, and the details of the crash will influence the total dollar amount. 

An Atlanta car accident lawyer can work with you and help you understand your options when it comes to securing compensation after a collision. 

How Are Car Accident Settlements Calculated? 

Car accident settlements are calculated based on the severity of your injuries and the amount of money the insurance company is willing to pay. This is how car insurance companies handle car accident claims in Georgia.

As a result, if you sustained minor injuries, your chances of a large settlement are likely lower than settlement offers for people who’ve sustained major injuries. However, that does not mean you should shy away from filing a claim and pursuing compensation. 

You might still be entitled to compensation for the following damages: 

• Medical bills
• Lost wages 
• Pain and suffering

Note that insurance providers are not fond of paying personal injury claims, no matter how large or small they are. However, a lawyer who has experience handling cases like yours can negotiate with providers and advocate for you. 

Medical Bills

In many cases, healthcare expenses account for the majority of damages that victims like you can pursue via a car accident settlement. This includes medical costs that you have already paid and bills you have accrued.

Sometimes, you can wait to pay certain medical bills after you receive your settlement money. In other instances, you might need to pay your healthcare costs upfront and out of pocket with the goal of being fully reimbursed later on.

The settlement for your medical bills can depend on the following factors:

• The type of care you received
• How long you were in the hospital
• Your mode of transportation to the hospital
• Whether or not you required surgery or long-term care

Lost Wages

In many cases, lost wages can be factored into your car accident settlement offer amount. This refers to the time and money you have lost as a result of missing work due to your injuries. To demonstrate lost wages in your claim, you may need to hand over previous pay stubs. 

This is how you can prove what you were making per month prior to the incident. Even though a full recovery of damages is not a guarantee, your lawyer will try to obtain a settlement offer that compensates you for the money you missed out on while you were away from work. 

Pain and Suffering

Sometimes, you might also be able to claim emotional stress from your injuries. To claim pain and suffering damages, you must have a physical injury from the car accident, and the emotional damages you’ve endured must be a direct result of that physical injury.

It’s important to note that calculating pain and suffering damages can be challenging without the guidance of an attorney. We recommend speaking with a lawyer who has handled car accident cases for help with pain and suffering damages.

Also, your ability to claim pain and suffering might also depend on the insurance company’s policy. But if you are eligible for this type of collision-related compensation, here are examples of what pain and suffering damages may cover:  

• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Anxiety, depression, or other mental-health-related issues 
• An inability to participate in the activities you loved before
• Diminished quality of life due to your injuries 
• Loss of companionship if you lost a loved one in the crash

How Do I Get More Money From a Car Accident Settlement? 

There are many steps you can take to increase your car accident compensation. In turn, you may earn more in damages than the average car accident settlement. The following actions might help you get more money from a car accident settlement:

• Taking pictures of the scene of your accident
• Documenting any damage to your car or the other party’s vehicle
• Speaking with witnesses at the scene of the collision 
• Receiving medical attention immediately after your crash
• Writing down everything that transpired before, during, and after the incident 
• Reporting the crash to your insurance company right away
• Holding onto medical bills and care-related documents
• Keeping a record of your injuries and your recovery

With this information in your possession, you can help your lawyer as they work on proving that you were the victim of a crash. Speaking of attorneys, you might be wondering, “What is the difference between an hourly fee & contingent fee?” 

Many victims of collisions worry about how they will manage to pay for legal representation. The idea of affording lawyer fees might stress you out, especially with all the other expenses you’re facing due to the accident. But try not to stress—let’s explore your options instead.  

How Much Do I Have to Pay My Car Accident Attorney?

It depends—some lawyers charge an hourly fee, no matter the nature of your case. However, if legal fees are stopping you from hiring an attorney, look for law firms that work on a contingency basis. In other words, they won’t ask for any payments until they secure compensation for you. 

You and your attorney will likely sit down ahead of time to decide what portion of your settlement will go to them. Then, when you and your lawyer agree on a compensation offer, the insurance company will likely send the check to your lawyer. 

From there, your lawyer will likely take their agreed-upon fee from the total dollar amount of your compensation. Then, they will send you the rest, at which point you can finally move on from your accident in a financial sense and focus on recovering in all other ways. 

Call Our Atlanta Personal Injury Law Firm For Information About the Average Settlement For a Car Accident 

Were you hurt in a collision? If so, you might be overwhelmed by the aftermath of a collision, but that’s what we’re here for—to advocate for you every step of the way. We have over 20 years of experience recovering more than $1 billion in compensation for our clients. 

We’re the ones you can trust to put your interests at the forefront of everything we do. As The Strong Arm in Georgia, we believe every car accident victim deserves to be awarded compensation for the extent of the damages they have suffered. 

We can help you pursue justice as the victim of a personal injury incident. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we can start building a case on your behalf. We’ll also tell you about our firm and give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.