Car accidents that result in injuries and lost wages can lead to a lot of unexpected expenses. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you may be wondering how you’re going to pay for the bills related to your injury, especially if you are unable to work during your recovery. If the accident wasn’t your fault, you can seek compensation for your losses, but how much? Our team has helped hundreds of injured individuals get the largest amount of compensation possible for their car accident-related losses. Let’s look at some of the key components of car accident compensation to help give you an idea of how much to expect from a car accident settlement in Baton Rouge.
Your Medical Expenses
Your medical expenses will make up the bulk of your possible settlement. If you handle your car accident claim yourself, the insurance company will likely offer you a quick settlement. Unfortunately, it may be lower than you need or are entitled to, especially with minor injuries. In some cases, minor injuries only seem minor at first and become more serious as time goes on. You may unfortunately be left with many expenses down the road.
You may be eligible to receive compensation for not only your current medical expenses but also for future medical expenses, as well. These future expenses usually apply to injuries that require ongoing treatments, medications, therapy, and surgery, such as severe back injuries.
Keep in mind that you can hurt your claim if you refuse medical treatment at the scene of the accident or delay it. It is also important to remember that some injuries have delayed symptoms, so seeking a medical evaluation after an accident is crucial.
Lost Wages
Another factor in car accident settlements is the amount of work you missed because of your injury. You may have missed work because of appointments, surgery, therapy, treatments, or temporary disability. Lost wages can also include loss of potential future wages if your injuries prevent you from returning to work or from returning to the same work as before the accident.
If you have a job with a regular paycheck, it’s generally easy to establish lost wages and missed days or hours. If you’re self-employed, on commission, or work another unconventional job, it can be more difficult to establish the time and wages you’ve missed. Having an experienced car accident lawyer on your side can take the tedious task of collecting this information off your hands. Your attorney will take care of this for you so you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
Responsibility May Reduce Your Settlement
Louisiana car accident cases operate under a pure comparative negligence law, which means that your compensation can be reduced if you contributed to your accident and injury. In these cases, your settlement amount will be reduced by the percentage of fault you had in the accident.
For example, if you were rear-ended but had a broken taillight at the time, it is possible that you will be found partially at fault because the driver may not have been aware that you were slowing down until it was too late.
If you believe you may have been partially responsible for your accident, it’s best to let an experienced car accident lawyer help you with your claim so you can seek the maximum amount of compensation possible.
We’ll Go to Bat for Your Maximum Settlement
Car accident claims can be stressful and complex, but not when you’ve got the help of an experienced attorney ready to step up to the plate. At Gauthier Amedee, we’ll go to bat for you and the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Call 225-647-1700 or fill out the online form today to get your free case review!
