When you see your car accident compensation figure, you might not understand how insurers and lawyers have arrived at this final figure.
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There are many factors that impact the cost of your claim beyond the accident itself, including your age, personal circumstances, and recovery process.
Understanding these factors and how they impact your claim can help you better prepare for your figure and why that number is being presented.
Keep reading to see the 5 factors that impact your car accident compensation claim.
What factors impact the value of your car accident compensation claim?
Several factors can impact the value of your car accident compensation claim, increasing or decreasing how much you are entitled to, including your age, personal circumstances, and the severity of your injuries.
Understanding these factors and their role in the value of your compensation can help you better anticipate how much you will receive and why the decision has been made.
We have detailed the five main factors that impact your car accident compensation claim below:
How severe your injury is
First, and perhaps the most important factor, is the severity of your injury.
If the injury you sustained in the accident is severe, you will usually have a higher settlement.
The higher settlement is to account for medical costs and the long-term effects of your injury.
Your lawyer will need to prove how severe your injury is and that it will have a long-term impact, such as on your ability to work or your quality of life.
Less severe injuries, or ones you can quickly recover from, can still result in a successful compensation claim.
Still, you might have a lower payout, covering the medical costs or any challenges you encountered while injured.
How long will your recovery be
Another factor that plays an important role is the length of your recovery and your recovery prognosis.
Short recovery times, and when you are expected to fully recover, typically result in lower claims.
This is because you will not be left with permanent injuries or living with changes as a result of the accident, and you can return to your normal life shortly.
If your accident has left you unable to recover or with a prolonged recovery period, you may be entitled to more compensation.
The nature of your recovery process is also considered, along with any medical bills that might be associated with it, like regular physiotherapy sessions or surgery.
When building your claim, a lawyer will consider all aspects of your recovery period to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
Your age
Age can also play a role in the amount of compensation you get.
Younger claimants typically receive higher settlements.
This is because their injuries will have a longer-lasting impact on their lives.
A lawyer will consider the role age plays in your case and argue for higher settlements if the injury is likely to impact you for years, your quality of life, or your ability to work.
Your income loss
The amount of income you will lose due to your injury is also considered.
The more income you lose, including future predicted loss of earnings, the more compensation you are entitled to.
Your compensation claim is designed to recoup these lost earnings, and if you cannot work long-term or permanently, you can expect higher pay to reflect that.
Your personal circumstances
Another important factor is your personal circumstances.
These can include your physical condition before the accident, the impact the accident has had on your life, and the predicted long-term impact to help generate a reasonable compensation claim.
The greater the impact the accident has on your life and the changes it has caused since the accident, the more you can expect in your compensation claim.
What can I claim after a car accident?
You can claim for several things as part of your car accident compensation claim, including the loss of earnings and any out-of-pocket expenses you have had to pay.
Your lawyer must be able to prove these expenses and any other claims you are making, so you must obtain documentation and proof for everything.
Some of the key things you can claim for are listed below:
- Home modification costs — including wheelchair accessibility features, changes to your bathroom, and other necessary changes to your living arrangements.
- Loss of earnings — including your current loss of earnings and any future lost earnings.
- Medical expenses — including emergency treatment, medications, physiotherapy, surgeries, and any medical needs that relate to your injury.
- Pain and suffering — includes physical pain, but also emotional distress that has been caused by the accident.
- Out-of-pocket expenses — that have occurred as a result of the accident, like transport to medical appointments.
Find your car accident lawyer in Brisbane today
When filing your car accident compensation claim, it is best to seek legal assistance.
Expert lawyers, like Smith’s Lawyers, can help you file a claim and ensure that you get the compensation you deserve, considering the factors we have outlined today.
Reach out to Smith’s Lawyers for car accidents in Brisbane to help you get your compensation.
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