Bergen County, NJ experiences over 30,000 accidents every year. These accidents range from small parking accidents to major accidents involving many cars. Only a quarter of these cases get in the courtroom, the other quarter of the people and motorists involved in the accident ignore the accident and fix the damages with their resources, and the remaining half settle with the insurance companies. Court cases take an extended period, and it is also costly, so most people avoid all that by settling for an amount that they feel it’s fair to them. By the way, if you need any help about what damages can you claim in a drunk driving accident, you can check here.
Here are the factors that determine how much to expect from a car accident.
- Proving liability
The insurance company is supposed to cover some of the medical bills as a result of the accident, no matter whose fault it was. The amount you will be compensated will be determined by you, proving beyond a reasonable doubt that you were the victim and not the other way round. An accident caused due to human error such as driving under the influence of alcohol, texting while driving, and many more will result in lowering the compensation fee.
- Medical expenses
The compensation should include the amount spent catering for your medical expenses, and you should also factor in the future costs that may arise as a result of the injuries. For example, if your leg got broken and you will need to have a regular appointment with your physiotherapist, then you should also ensure the cost is included in the compensation.
- Your ability to work
Accidents result in serious injuries that may end up crippling the victim or sideling him for a while as he or she recovers. So when negotiating for a settlement, your lawyer should ensure he justifies why you should be compensated for all the lost wages as a result of the accident. If you may never work again as a result of the accident, the insurance company should ensure you are also compensated for all your working years.
The mechanic should examine the vehicle and highlight all the parts required for the car to be up and running again, in some cases, the car might be damaged to the extent that it cannot be repaired. The settlement should include such costs, and if the car can’t be repaired, then the insurance company should evaluate the worth of the car and buy a new one.
- Impact of your life.
Apart from the physical injuries caused by accident, the victim may be faced with mental illness. For example, a person who enjoyed playing basketball at his leisure time getting into an accident and losing his leg, this will be the end of him playing competitive basketball with friends and thus preventing him from enjoying his or her favorite game. That is why this factor should be considered during settlement.
Court cases take a long time in Bergen County, NJ take a long time before a verdict is made, sometimes the verdict might not be in your favor and in other instances, and you may be under-compensated as compared to the settlement. Regular court cases, legal fees, transport expenses, and time spent during the court cases may not be worth the amount you will be compensated, and that is why it is vital in some cases to settle for what the insurance company is offering.