Various injuries can result from severe auto accidents. You might have sustained injuries and property damage if you were engaged in an automobile accident that was caused by someone else’s carelessness. In a personal injury lawsuit, you could ask for compensation for your losses, but you might be unsure how much you can receive. In California, you might have come across a car accident settlement calculator, but these tools are notoriously unreliable. The best method to find out how much your claim is worth is to speak with a skilled personal injury lawyer.
How Is a Car Accident Settlement Calculated in California?
In California, there is no precise formula for determining how much a vehicle accident claim is worth. After being hurt, some people calculate an estimate using car accident settlement calculators. You can’t count on these calculators to produce an exact estimate, though. This is partially due to the fact that calculators are unable to gather all the necessary data to calculate a precise monetary value. Likewise, it’s crucial to remember that no two cases are identical.
How is an auto accident settlement’s value decided?
The settlement money you get ought to be sufficient to pay for all accident-related losses. For this reason, it’s important to understand what is covered by a vehicle accident settlement. You are entitled to two different kinds of damages:
Economic Damages
The amounts listed on all pertinent bills and receipts must be added together in order to determine economic damages. Additionally, you must consider things like:
- previous and upcoming medical costs
- cost of repairing or replacing destroyed property
- salaries and other sources of income lost
- lost business possibilities as a result of the wounds received
- cost of living expenses
Non-economic Damages
The non-monetary losses an auto accident victim sustains are known as non-economic damages, sometimes known as general damages. It is more difficult to assign a monetary value to the losses since these damages are more arbitrary. The damages could include restitution for:
- emotional distress
- pain and suffering
- loss of life’s enjoyment
- loss of intimacy and relationship
- scarring, deformity, and physical impairment that lasts forever
When Punitive Damages Are Claimable
Punitive damages are intended to hold the perpetrator accountable and discourage others from committing the same types of wrongdoing. Punitive damages may be awarded even though they are not frequently granted in auto accident cases if the defendant’s actions were determined to be willful, malicious, or excessively careless.
How long does it take to settle a car accident claim in California?
Personal injury claims in vehicle accident cases often are resolved within a few months to over a year, even though California state law mandates insurance carriers to settle claims within 85 days of the date of filing. Since every injury claim is different, the precise time it takes to settle will mainly rely on the particulars of each case. A car accident settlement will typically take longer the more complicated the claim is.
Longer settlement times are typically caused by the following factors:
- complicated and ambiguous evidence,
- severely injured victims who need substantial medical attention and treatment, and
- number accountable parties involved.
The following criteria, however, typically result in quicker settlement times:
- clear proof of liability,
- minor injuries, and
- insurance provider responding immediately to claimant concerns.
The assistance of an auto accident attorney will typically result in greater payments and a quicker settlement process.
How long after a car accident can you claim injury in California?
Insurance providers are required to settle claims with claimants within 85 days of the claim being filed. Depending on the intricacy of the claim, it may take many months to get a settlement check.
According to the California statute of limitations, you have six months from the time of the accident to file a claim for injuries from an auto accident. To file a claim for property damage, you have three years. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that this deadline only applies to lawsuits brought after the accident, not after the submission of the official insurance claim.
Depending on the complexity of the issues involved and the defendant’s willingness to accept responsibility for your damages, personal injury proceedings may extend for many weeks or even months.
Your attorney can give you a reasonable time assessment when to expect to get your personal injury claim.
Speak with a personal injury attorney in Temecula
Do not delay your road to recovery! We can assist you in obtaining the compensation you require to make up for your losses if you were injured in a car accident in addition to sustaining property damage.To discuss the specifics of your case, call the Zucker Law Firm at (951) 699-2100 as soon as possible.
