It’s impossible to predict the exact financial outcome of an accident. Many factors influence the amount of a settlement. Generally speaking, those who suffer the worst injuries typically receive the largest settlements. The value your attorney places on your settlement includes various economic and non-economic damages, including: Vehicle repairs. Accident victims often receive money for property damage to their vehicles. Sometimes this includes money for repairs, but other times victims must replace a totaled vehicle. Medical expenses. Your claim will include medical treatment costs, including ambulance service, emergency room treatment, diagnostic tests and imaging, surgery, hospitalization, and prescription medication. Estimated future medical expenses. If you suffered severe or permanent injuries that require additional or ongoing care and treatment, such as a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury, your settlement could include future medical expenses. Specialized treatment costs. Accident victims typically need specialized therapy to help them cope with the physical and/or mental aftermath. Examples include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and mental health services. Lost wages. If you had to take time off work because of your injuries, your attorney will include your lost income when they place a value on your claim. Future lost wages. Accident victims who suffer permanent injuries might have to change careers or may not be able to work at all. Lawyers estimate future earnings and include them in insurance claims and associated personal injury lawsuits. Home modification expenses. Sometimes, accident injury victims need to modify their houses to make them more accessible, especially if they suffer permanent injuries. These expenses can vary from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Examples of common home modifications include adding a wheelchair ramp, installing handrails throughout a home, putting grab bars in the shower, and constructing a living area on the ground floor of a home. Replacement service expenses. Depending on the severity of injuries, a victim or their family might need to hire one or more people to help with household responsibilities the victim performed before injuries. Examples include a cook, maid, personal assistant, lawn care service, tutor, and childcare provider. Pain and suffering. Traffic accidents are traumatic events that cause victims physical and emotional pain and suffering. Pain and suffering typically make up a hefty portion of non-economic losses in the value of a claim. Loss of consortium. Permanent injuries can impact the relationship between partners inside and outside the bedroom. When a victim’s marriage suffers from injuries, lawyers typically include loss of consortium in the claim. Reduced quality of life. Accident victims who suffer permanent injuries cannot enjoy the things they did before the accident. Their injury impacts their hobbies, their career, and other activities. Sometimes, reduced quality of life increases the value of the claim. Settlement amounts are seldom the full value of a claim. However, costly litigation can eat up the gain of going to trial, so many accident victims choose to settle for fair compensation for their injuries. Your attorney will present you with any settlement offers, and you can decide what works best for your situation.