Settlement Value of a Wichita Falls Car Accident
The one thing every accident victim is concerned with is how much their car accident claim is worth. If you or anyone you know has been injured in a car wreck in Wichita Falls, Texas, or elsewhere in Texas or Oklahoma, the answer to this question will be helpful for you as it can help you determine if your injury claim is worth pursuing and whether or not you are receiving the fair compensation that you are entitled to.
There are a multitude of factors that must be taken into consideration when determining the value of your accident claim. Among these factors are:
- Who was at fault for the accident
- How much insurance is available (how much liability coverage the person who caused the accident had and how much insurance you have available to you from your own car insurance company. Pro tip: UM and PIP are critical yet fairly inexpensive elements of car insurance coverage that you should have on your own policy)
- How severe your injuries are (if there is any temporary or permanent impairment)
- How much medical treatment you have undergone and how much you will need to undergo in the future
- Whether you were forced to miss any work and the value of any lost wages due to your forced absences
- Whether you are able to return to work in the same capacity as before the accident
- Other elements like pain and suffering
Some of these damages are relatively easy to put a number on, but some, like pain and suffering, are a bit harder to define. An experienced Wichita Falls car accident lawyer can accurately evaluate your claim and successfully negotiate your settlement in your favor. We assist accident victims all the time during their recovery from serious injuries. For free help with your injury case, call us at 940-569-4000 or contact us through our contact form. We offer free, confidential, no-obligation consultations and we will give you a free evaluation of your case.
How to Get Money for Car Accident Injuries in Texas and Oklahoma?
When you’re in an accident, where you turn to in order to seek compensation depends on which state you are in as every state has different fault laws to determine who is financially responsible for your crash. No-fault states mean you turn to your own insurance company for compensation and once you exhaust your insurance coverage with your own company,you can seek compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
Both Texas and Oklahoma are at-fault states, meaning that the negligent driver is responsible for compensating you for your injuries.
Compensation for Medical Expenses in Texas and Oklahoma
When you’re in a car accident caused by another driver’s neglect in both Texas and Oklahoma, a large portion of the value of your claim is for your medical expenses. Included in your medical expenses are all reasonable and necessary treatments that you needed in the past, now in the present, and in the future, including:
- Ambulance
- Emergency room
- Hospitalization
- Surgery
- Diagnostic testing
- Specialists
- Physical therapy
- Psychological counseling
- Medications
- Assistive aids (crutches, wheelchairs, etc.)
- Home and/or vehicle modifications
- At-home care
- Transportation expenses
Compensation for Lost Wages in the Past and Future
In Texas and Oklahoma, you are entitled to compensation regarding any lost wages from being unable to work due to your injuries. Like the medical expenses, you are entitled to past and future losses, including:
- Lost wages (past and future)
- Lost earning capacity (if your ability to do your job as you did before is impacted by your injuries)
- Lost sick time
- Lost vacation time
- Lost bonuses
- Lost commission
- Lost job perks and benefits
Compensation for Your Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering is an important part of your claim for compensation. Pain and suffering include all the pain and suffering and trauma you were forced to endure due to the accident and your injuries all because of someone else’s negligence. But unlike medical expenses and lost wages, pain and suffering is much more difficult to calculate as there are no hard numbers to go by. Because of this difficulty, you would benefit from seeking the advice of an experienced personal injury lawyer to help you determine the value of the pain and suffering portion of your claim. Additionally, an experienced accident lawyer can help you obtain the evidence that you need to prove how much you have suffered.
What If You Were Partially at Fault For a Car Accident?
If you were partially at fault for your accident, this will certainly have an impact on your claim. Both Texas and Oklahoma follow some form of comparative fault laws, meaning that your compensation is deducted proportionate to the amount of fault you have for the accident. And if it is determined that you are 51% or more responsible, you are barred from receiving any compensation from the other driver’s insurance company.
Contact our Wichita Falls Car Accident Lawyer
Your life can be turned upside down in a flash. If you or a loved one have been in an accident and have been thrust into a situation where you are now facing serious injuries, mounting medical bills, forced time off work, and nagging insurance adjusters, contact our experienced and trusted Wichita Falls personal injury law firm. We’ll investigate your car wreck, collect all the needed evidence, hold the other driver responsible, and secure you the compensation you deserve.