Determining the Value of Your St. Louis Car Accident

By Christopher Hoffmann  Oct. 23, 2019 5:14p

Car accidents are difficult situations to get over. It’s not just the initial emotional turmoil of the impact. Victims can then expect to go through some of the most difficult periods of their lives: extensive medical treatments, lost wages, property damage, and perhaps permanent emotional scarring.

The only potential silver lining is that hopefully, the car accident claim can provide sufficient financial support to help you get over this step of your life. But how much can that financial support be?

How the Benefits Are Calculated

The total amount of the benefits you receive in a car accident claim are generally based on:

• The extent of your injuries, and how much medical treatment you require to get better;

• The cost of repairs for property damage;

• Lost wages if your injuries prevent you from going back to work;

• Any emotional distress or other issues the car accident has caused.

The more distress the accident has caused you, the higher the amount of compensation you can expect to receive. However, a lot of these factors require you to estimate how much the cost of getting better is. For instance, unless you’ve already finished medical treatment for your injuries and have completely healed, you’ll have to estimate all future medical costs related to the car accident injury.

The pain and suffering component is also an estimation of costs that account for all the troubles caused by the accident on an emotional and personal level. In other words, this requires you to put a price on your pain.

Additionally, some factors can help you fight for a higher amount:

• No shared fault for the accident - in Missouri, if you are found partially at fault, you generally will not recieve full compensation. You will be given a percentage of fault, and can only receive compensation after your fault has been subtracted from the total cost;

• You have strong, credible witnesses that can back-up your claim;

• You have tangible proof of the other driver’s wrongdoings;

• You work closely with a St. Louis car accident lawyer.

The last one is particularly important. Though you have the truth on your side, a lot of the times the final compensation amount depends on how well you can negotiate with the insurance company. Evidence must be presented in a compelling manner, and you need to be aware of various industry tricks insurance adjusters may use to convince you to accept a lower amount.

If you work with a lawyer, they will not just gather the evidence you need, but they will also negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.

Speak With a St. Louis Car Accident Attorney

Have you been the victim of a car accident? You may be entitled to compensation, but you likely need some help. Contact a St. Louis car accident lawyer for a free case review and see what your best legal options are. Give us a call 24/7 at (314) 361-4242.