When someone else’s negligence causes a motor vehicle collision, victims have the potential to pursue compensation for damages. Oftentimes, they wonder how much to expect from a settlement. Unfortunately, there’s no universal answer to this question. This is because numerous factors go into the calculation of the settlement. These factors are the “damages” of your claim. With a car accident attorney, Houston victims have someone to maximize their settlement by pursuing every avenue for damages. Potential Damages in a Car Accident Settlement After a car accident, the ultimate settlement reflects your legal damages. For minor accidents, these are minimal. However, in more severe accidents, these can total hundreds of thousands of dollars. When you work with a personal injury attorney, you have someone to help you calculate your damages. More importantly, you have someone to act in your best interest. This is crucial because, on the other side of your claim, the insurance company makes an estimate of its own. Unfortunately, the insurance company is not on your side - despite what the advertisements might claim. Instead, they want to protect the profits of the company and minimize your settlement. Available Damages With a car accident attorney, Houston drivers have someone to maximize their settlement. This includes calculating numerous damages. Here are a few examples of legal damages from a car wreck. Medical bills, from your immediate treatment to continued treatment such as physical therapy Lost income from any time you missed work Reduced earning capacity if your injury limits your ability to work in the future Property damage, including your vehicle and any personal items damaged in the incident Pain and suffering Emotional distress Wrongful death if the accident causes you to lose a loved one Punitive damages, which judges use to penalize particularly reckless drivers The goal of your settlement is to provide complete financial compensation for the legal damages you incur from an accident. Ideally, you have everything you need to feel whole again. Oftentimes, victims believe that they only have the right to claim their medical expenses. When partnering with an experienced car accident attorney, Houston drivers have someone to help them understand the full potential. Your auto accident settlement should cover the full losses you incurred. Often, this includes non-economic factors that are difficult to put into a dollar amount. That’s why our auto accident attorneys help you calculate emotional distress or pain and suffering. The Severity of the Accident Impacts the Settlement In your auto accident claim, the amount of compensation you recover depends on the severity of your accident and the severity of your injuries. When a minor accident causes little to no damage, it results in a relatively minor settlement. On the other hand, a fatal collision results in a much higher settlement. Here are a few common elements of more severe accidents that lead to larger settlements. A victim does nothing to cause the accident High-speed collisions Reckless, negligent driving by the liable party Extremely painful injuries Life-altering injuries, such as those that debilitate the victim Among these elements, they are common to certain types of car wrecks. Head-on collisions Rear-end car accidents T-bone collisions However, it’s important to remember that no two accidents are the same. Moreover, any type of car wreck has the potential to result in a large settlement amount. This is true even when none of these factors are present. Injuries & Car Accident Settlements Typically, the value of your claim ties in with the severity of your injuries. For example, a disabling injury or life-threatening injury results in higher medical expenses and a bigger impact on your future. Therefore, it results in a much higher settlement value. Alternatively, minor injuries result in lower bills and less impact on your future. However, it’s important to understand that there’s no universal answer here. Even seemingly minor injuries have the chance of changing someone’s life. To uncover the truth of your claim, work with a car accident attorney Houston trusts. That said, here are examples of injuries that tend to result in higher settlements. Chronic pain Severe whiplash or soft tissue damage Nerve damage Disfigurement Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) Severe concussions Dismemberment Any injury with a high level of impairment In order to maximize your claim, partner with a car accident attorney Houston drivers depend on. When insurance companies want to protect their profits, they offer victims a lowball settlement and hope the person doesn’t know any better. With an auto accident attorney on your side, you have someone to represent your best interests. When a victim has legal representation, the insurance company is far more likely to make a fair settlement offer to avoid extensive negotiations or court. With the right car accident attorney, Houston victims have an advocate to protect their rights.