How Much is My Car Accident Injury Case Worth?

Determining the true physical, financial, and emotional costs of a car accident injury requires the knowledge of personal injury attorneys with a track record of success handling these types of claims. For more than 40 years, our car accident lawyers at Moore Law Firm have helped personal injury victims in Mobile and throughout Alabama recover the full amount of compensation they deserve after a crash. Knowing how we value car accident injury claims in Alabama can help you better understand your case and the amount of damages you may be entitled to receive.

How Are Car Accident Damages Calculated?

There is no set formula for calculating damages for an injury sustained in a car accident that was someone else’s fault. There are many different factors that personal injury lawyers take into account when figuring out what a claim is worth, including:

• The severity of your injuries and how they have impacted your life
• The cost of your medical bills, wage loss, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering
• Whether you were partially at fault for the crash
• Evidence such as photos or video of the scene, damage to vehicles, eyewitness statements, and police reports
• Insurance coverage limits on the liable party’s policy
• Whether they were driving under the influence or had a history of traffic violations

No two cases are alike, and each factor can carry more weight depending on circumstances. For example, if you’re hurt in a crash involving a large commercial truck like a tractor-trailer, you may be able to recover more compensation than you would in a crash involving two passenger vehicles. This is because trucking companies have much higher limits on their insurance policies.

It’s also important to understand that Alabama personal injury law applies the concept of contributory negligence. This means that if you were even 1% at fault for a car accident in Mobile, you wouldn’t be able to recover damages from the other party because you contributed to the accident.

Calculating Economic Damages

Economic losses associated with car accident injuries vary from case to case. If you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury such as traumatic brain injury that requires extensive ongoing medical care and leaves you unable to work, the amount of damages you can recover will be greater than if you suffered a minor injury. For instance, if you or a loved one becomes paralyzed in a collision, economic damages may include:

• Past and future medical bills
• Past and future lost wages
• Cost of rehabilitation services
• Home modification costs
• Domestic service costs, such as housekeeping, childcare, lawn care, and other tasks you used to perform
• Ongoing nursing care
• Property damage to your vehicle
• Other accident and injury-related costs

On the other hand, if you suffered whiplash in a minor rear-end accident and are expected to make a speedy recovery, you may only be entitled to damages like medical bills, lost wages, and property damage.

Although calculating economic damages may seem straightforward, it is more complex than you may think. In cases involving future medical expenses and wage loss, our mobile car accident attorneys may work with economists and medical experts who specialize in estimating the costs of specific treatments, medications, and interventions that may be required.

Where you live, your age, your general health, income, and earning capacity prior to the accident are also taken into consideration. Depending on the circumstances, other factors may be considered as well.

Calculating Non-Economic Car Accident Damages in Alabama

Financial losses are just one piece of the puzzle when calculating total damages in a car accident claim. Your car accident lawyer must also evaluate the ways your injury has affected your life in less tangible ways. The greater the impact your injury has on your life and general well-being, the more your claim will be worth. The value of non-economic car accident damages is highly subjective, which makes them much more challenging to calculate, so a personal injury lawyer often consults experts when calculating non-economic damages as well.

Some of the most important elements that can affect the amount of non-economic damages you may receive include the severity and nature of your injury and the likelihood that you’ll make a full recovery.

Non-economic damages that may be included when calculating the amount of your claim include:

• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Emotional distress
• Diminished quality of life
• Loss of companionship and consortium with a spouse or partner
• Disfigurement and scarring

If you’ve lost a loved one in a car accident or your injuries were caused by someone who acted in a particularly egregious or intentional manner, you may be able to recover punitive damages as well.

Why You Need a Car Accident Lawyer to Protect Your Rights

Dealing with insurance companies after being hurt in a crash can be stressful and overwhelming. Our personal injury attorneys handle all communications and negotiations with insurers and can help you understand how auto insurance policy limits may affect how much your car accident injury case is worth.

For example, if your car accident attorney determines that your claim is worth $100,000 but the motorist who caused a crash has an insurance policy with a limit of $50,000, that is the maximum you may recover from their insurer. In some cases, it may be worth bringing a car accident lawsuit against the negligent party if they have substantial assets. You may also be able to have your medical bills and other damages covered by your own auto insurance policy, so it’s always a good idea to carry adequate amounts of collision, comprehensive, and medical payments coverage.

Unfortunately, insurance companies usually try to shift blame, minimize your injuries, offer inadequate settlements, or deny claims to save money. That’s why it’s vital to have a tenacious car accident attorney on your side, especially in truck accident claims and other cases with high policy limits. If you’re involved in a crash, do not give a statement, sign anything, or accept a settlement without speaking to an Alabama personal injury lawyer first.

Let Our Car Accident Lawyers Take the Weight Off Your Shoulders

Our car accident attorneys in Mobile can evaluate your case, advise you of your rights and options, and help you recover the maximum compensation you need and deserve to protect your health and financial security so you and your family can heal and move on with your lives.

Contact Our Car Injury Attorneys in Mobile, AL

Trying to determine how much car accident damages are worth can be confusing. Moore Law Firm has helped more than 15,000 personal injury clients throughout Alabama find the justice and compensation they deserve. To schedule a consultation with a car accident lawyer in Mobile, AL, contact us, call us at 251-445-7602, or use the convenient chat feature on our website.