A car accident can be a very expensive life event for people throughout California. Between lost income, medical expenses, and property damage, the financial toll of a car accident can be substantial. With an accident attorney on your side, you’ll have a good chance of recovering any expenses related to your car accident. Compensation may include property damage, medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and more.
What Expenses Can I Claim After a Car Accident?
In most serious accidents, victims are entitled to both economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages are any financial costs related to the accident. Economic damages may include medical bills, storage fees, vehicle repairs, or any other out-of-pocket costs. Victims may also be entitled to “non-economic damages” or compensation for emotional trauma, stress, and harm to family relationships.
Medical Expenses
Car accidents can leave you with tons of medical bills, leading to large out-of-pocket expenses. Medical costs are usually the most significant costs relating to a car accident, and your health insurance may not volunteer to cover all medical costs. Medical expenses can include ambulance fees, medical equipment purchases, co-pays, medical appointments, and other forms of emergency care. A good lawyer would also be able to secure funds for future or ongoing medical treatments, or prescription medications, which can be substantial in instances of permanent disabilities.
Property Damage
If your vehicle or any of your personal property was harmed during a car accident, you may have the right to seek reimbursement. Reimbursements may include vehicle repairs, rental car costs, or anything else that was damaged in the car crash, such as a phone or tablet. Be sure to document all property-related losses, including photos of the damage and receipts for any replacements or repairs. Even smaller items, like broken glasses or a damaged child car seat, may be eligible for reimbursement as part of your claim.
Lost Wages
A serious injury or a loss of transportation may impair your ability to work for a period of time. Fair compensation should include any wages that you would have earned had you been working as usual, such as tips, bonuses, and overtime. To support your claim, it’s important to provide pay stubs, employer statements, or tax documents that show your typical earnings. If your injury affects your future earning potential, you may also be eligible to claim compensation for loss of future income. To support your claim, keep detailed records of pay stubs or tax documents that show your typical earnings. If your injury affects your future earning potential, you may also be eligible to claim compensation for loss of future income.
Pain and Suffering/Emotional Harm
Beyond the physical injuries sustained in a car accident, it’s not uncommon for you to experience emotional and psychological afflictions. Pain and suffering damages are meant to compensate for non-economic losses such as chronic pain, anxiety, depression, trauma, or reduced quality of life. Emotional damages are harder to quantify than medical bills or lost wages, but a good injury attorney would be able to secure payment for any distress you feel as a result of the accident.
Loss of Consortium
Loss of Consortium refers to the harm of your personal relationships as a result of a car accident. For example, if your spouse has to pick up additional chores around the house, or feels more trauma or depression as a result of the accident, loss of consortium may be a legitimate cause for additional compensation under California Law. Loss of consortium may also include necessary child care expenses, the loss of the ability to have children, or increased difficulty pursuing a healthy sexual relationship.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are relatively rare, but may apply when the at-fault party’s actions were especially reckless or malicious. Unlike compensatory damages, which aim to make the victim whole, punitive damages are intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future. For example, if a driver was under the influence of alcohol, a court may impose punitive damages in addition to compensatory awards.
Legal Fees
In many personal injury cases, attorney fees are handled on a contingency basis, meaning you don’t pay unless your lawyer wins your case. However, any costs associated with legal filings, expert testimony, or obtaining evidence may also be recoverable as part of your overall claim. Distinguished law firms like Lawyers for Justice, PC operate on a “No Win No Fee model“
What if the At-fault Driver Wants to Pay out of Pocket?
It’s not uncommon for a driver to offer cash at the scene of the accident. Taking money at the scene of the accident might seem like a good idea, but most authorities advise against it. By accepting cash, you may forfeit your right to future compensation. Out-of-pocket offers usually lack official agreements or legally enforceable contracts.
Additionally, California law requires you to report any accident involving injuries or damages exceeding $1,000 to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and insurance companies often require prompt notice as well. While it might seem easier to avoid the bureaucracy, it’s usually safer to go through the proper channels.
Will my Insurance Rates go up After Filing a Claim?
Asking your insurance company to pay is asking them just to do their job. But there is a chance that they will raise your rates after you file a claim. Whether or not they raise rates, and by how much, will largely depend on who’s at fault and the size of the claim.
Don’t be scared of insurance raising your rates. If they raise your rates by too much, it won’t be difficult to find another company that will cover you for a lower rate.
How to Get a Car Accident Reimbursement
Getting reimbursed for your car accident expenses can be a complicated process, but it doesn’t have to be. First, make sure you gather all necessary documentation, including the police report, photos of the accident scene, medical records, repair estimates, and receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses related to the crash. The more organized and thorough your records, the stronger your claim will be.
Next, file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company – or your own, if you’re using collision coverage or dealing with an uninsured driver. Be prepared to negotiate, as insurance companies often offer less than the full amount owed. If the insurer refuses to pay what you’re entitled to, or if there are complications determining liability, it’s wise to consult a personal injury lawyer. An experienced attorney can help you navigate the process, advocate on your behalf, and ensure that you receive fair reimbursement for all accident-related losses.
Mr. Justice Contact Info
At Lawyers for Justice, PC, our legal team specializes in recovering as many expenses as possible for you after a car accident. As personal injury attorneys, we specialize in a wide array of cases, including Car Accidents, Bus Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Dog Bites, Slip & Fall, and Workplace Injuries. We know that dealing with an injury can be both painful and expensive, which is why we handle all the bureaucratic work, so you can focus on recovering.
We handle everything from filing your injury claim to gathering evidence, and even negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf. We will even handle the lawsuit if it goes to court. Our legal professionals will be there to guide you with any advice you need along the way, and we guarantee we won’t settle for anything less than you deserve.
Compensation could be just a phone call away: (844) 568-1702
