While “claim” and “lawsuit” are often used interchangeably, there is a difference between the two terms. A claim is a type of request from an accident victim for compensation for their losses. An injured person can ask the at-fault party to pay for their damages without initiating a lawsuit. Typically, this is done by making a claim through insurance.
Many insurance claims are resolved without filing a lawsuit or going to court. However, some accident victims must bring a lawsuit to get fair compensation for their damages. If the insurance company does not want to pay a fair settlement amount, the victim may need to sue the insurance company or the at-fault person.
A car accident lawsuit will include a personal injury claim for damages that shows:
Why you are entitled to compensation
What damages you are seeking
An experienced car accident lawyer can help you understand your legal options and whether you qualify to sue the person responsible for the crash. A legal professional can also break down how much your claim may be worth and what a fair settlement amount looks like.