How Much To Expect From A Car Accident Settlement

Ryan Bradley | February 6, 2023 | Car Accident

If you were injured in a car accident, you are likely anxious to learn about the potential compensation you may be able to recover. You may be concerned about unpaid medical bills and other financial obligations you’ve had trouble keeping up with while you’ve been off work. A personal injury lawyer can explain your options and help calculate your damages.  

Damages Available In Missouri Personal Injury Cases

The potential compensation you may receive is tied to the damages or losses you have suffered. You may be able to seek compensation for the following damages as part of your car accident claim:

Medical Expenses    

Car accidents can cause victims to suffer serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and painful fractures. 

These injuries can be expensive to treat and may require:

  • Emergency treatment
  • Hospitalization
  • Surgeries
  • Physical or occupational therapy 
  • Diagnostic and imaging tests, like X-rays, MRIs, and ultrasounds
  • Doctor bills
  • Specialist visits 

You can potentially recover compensation for your past bills, as well as future anticipated medical care. Your lawyer can consult your doctors and other experts to determine the likely treatments you will have to undergo.

Lost Earnings  

Your injuries may require you to take time off work to recover. You can pursue compensation for the earnings and benefits you lose while you are receiving medical treatment and recovering, such as:

  • Lost salary or hourly wages
  • Lost commissions and bonuses
  • Used benefits such as sick leave and PTO

Your lawyer can use check stubs, a letter from your employer, or tax returns to help document your losses. 

If the injury has affected your long-term earning potential, you can also pursue compensation for your reduced earning capacity. Your lawyer may need to work with an economic expert to determine the amount of these losses by considering factors such as your age, health, life expectancy, industry, and professional history.

Property Damage 

If your vehicle was damaged, you can pursue compensation for the cost to repair or replace it.

Pain and Suffering

While lost earnings, medical expenses, and property damage may be able to be calculated by objective proof such as invoices, receipts, or bills, the law recognizes your right to recover compensation that cannot be as easily quantified, such as pain and suffering. 

Pain and suffering encompasses a wide range of damages, including:

  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Mental anguish
  • Annoyance and inconvenience
  • Lost or reduced quality of life 

It can be difficult to quantify these damages. Fortunately, Missouri does not cap pain and suffering damages for car accident cases like it does for medical malpractice cases. Your lawyer may provide testimony from doctors, family members, coworkers, and friends to help show how the injuries have negatively affected your life. Ultimately, the jury or insurance adjuster assigned to your case will try to determine the value of these damages. 

Factors That Can Affect the Value of A Car Accident Claim

Many factors can affect the potential value of your car accident claim, including:

  • The type and severity of your injuries 
  • The defendant’s fault in the accident, as well as whether your own negligence contributed to the accident
  • Whether the accident left you permanently disabled
  • Any pre-existing health conditions you had that affect your claim
  • The overall impact the accident had on your life 
  • The personal injury lawyer you choose to represent you

If you would like to learn more about the potential value of your car accident case, contact an experienced St. Louis personal injury lawyer for help. Lawyers can use their past knowledge and experience in similar cases to estimate the potential value of your case. 

Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm For Help Today

For more information, please contact Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers at your nearest location to schedule a free case evaluation today.

St. Louis Office
1430 Washington Ave Suite #226 St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 400-0000

Kansas City Office
1509 NE Parvin Rd, Suite A., Kansas City, MO 64116
(816) 408-3448

Or if you would prefer to reach out to us online, please visit our contact us page.