Car accidents occur more frequently than we generally care to accept. According to Forbes, the United States alone records an average of over 5 million collisions per year. This just goes to show that these occurrences are a fact of life.
Of course, no one plans to ever be in an accident. But then, knowing what to do afterward can go a long way to soften the effect. That said, do you know you can be eligible for compensation after your car crash? Here, this article will highlight 5 important things to know about car accident compensation.
Understanding the Concept of Car Accident Compensation
A car accident compensation or statutory benefit is a settlement fee paid to accident victims to help mitigate the damage or loss caused by the accident. Basically, a car accident occurs when a car crashes into something else. It can be a collision with an object, another vehicle, or even a person. When such incidents occur, the damages caused can often be significant, hence the compensation.
Of course, a settlement does not automatically cancel damages done or losses incurred. However, it can help fix a large portion of property damage, pay the medical bills for injured victims, and act as a form of justice against whoever was responsible for the collision. However, these claims are sometimes not as straightforward as imagined. Well, to understand the entire concept more, here are 5 important questions about car accident compensation and their answers.
Who is Eligible for a Car Accident Compensation?
The general idea is that anyone injured in a car accident can be eligible to receive compensation, depending on the situation. This also applies to property damages and in severe cases, loss of life. However, there are specific clauses involved in determining whether or not such persons deserve to be compensated. Firstly, you may not be eligible to receive car accident compensation if you are linked to or directly at fault for the accident. In most such cases, you and your insurance company will even be required to pay the compensation.
However, if you are found to be the aggrieved party in the whole incident, then you become eligible to make a claim. However, you must be able to prove your innocence in the accident, and that’s where a car accident lawyer comes in.
How Are Faults Decided in a Car Accident?
Fault determination in car accidents can often be a tricky business considering the many permutations involved. However, the basic definition is that the person, object, or party that triggered the accident is usually at fault. More than one party can also be at fault for the accident, depending on how the situation is adjudged to have gone down. Also, while the police report of the incident is often the account used to determine fault, all the parties involved hold the right to employ experts to help carry out personal investigations.
Determination of faults in accidents usually involves a thorough investigation of the accident scene. This is aimed to find clues that may provide clarity about the cause of the accident. Pictures from traffic cams, damages from each vehicle, and eyewitness testimonies will also be taken into account to ensure accurate discernment of fault.
What Compensations Can You Claim from a Car Accident ?
Car accident compensations are usually comprehensive and aim to ease the recovery process for the victims involved. Hence, it usually covers several potential expenses. Here are some of the compensations you can expect from your car accident claim.
- Medical Compensation: This is usually the most important, and it is targeted at ensuring the victim gets quality treatment for any injury sustained. For this compensation, you can expect the at-fault party to cover the medical expenses and any other treatment-related costs.
- Damage Repair: Of course, car accidents often constitute a significant amount of property damage, and it would be unfair for victims to bear the costs of repair themselves. This is why your compensation claim also requires the at-fault party to pay for vehicle repair and any other property damage.
- Pain and Suffering: Even after treatment, victims of car accidents are still subjected to pain and suffering pending when their injuries are fully healed. Your car accident compensation also qualifies you to receive a settlement fee to help reduce your suffering. You can also sue for more compensation for mental-related difficulties caused by the accident like trauma and anxiety.
- Lost Wages: If you are incapacitated as a result of your accident and are unable to work for a specific period, you may be due to receive another compensation. This is to cover lost wages as a result of your inability to return to work.
- Permanent Disability: If, in more severe cases, your injuries lead to a permanent disability, then you become eligible for an even larger compensation. It usually combines most of the other compensations put into one to help you live with and manage your condition better.
How is Compensation Calculated?
Filing a claim for car accident compensation will often require you to provide a statement of the amount you are due. However, the fact that these figures are not easy to come up with means you may need to hire an expert. These experts will generate the right figure by taking all the damages and injuries sustained into account.
How to Make a Car Accident Compensation Claim
Making a car accident compensation claim isn’t really as easy as it sounds. So, you’ll be better off contracting a car accident lawyer to help with this aspect While you get medical attention. For your lawyer, the process involves documenting the accident scene, calculating total losses, checking in with relevant authorities, and then filing a claim.
Coleman Law Group Can Help You
Car accident compensations can go a long way to help accident victims get back on their feet quicker. Coleman Law Group is always on hand to help you mastermind your claim to a car accident compensation. Also, you can always count on us to help fight for you throughout the entirety of your case and beyond. Contact us today for a free consultation!
