Know How Much Money To Expect From Your Personal Injury Claim

If you've recently been in a wreck, you may be so focused on getting better from your injuries that you have put off the issue of collecting any compensation from the at-fault driver. Taking care of yourself is vital and it's only natural to place a high priority on your health and well-being. That being said, the sooner you take action against the at-fault driver and their insurance company, the sooner you will begin to lessen the financial impact the wreck has had on you and your family's lives. Knowing what to expect gets you one step closer to actually getting it, so read on to get a quick run-down of what you can expect to gain, financially speaking, from a personal injury case.

Damages

This term encompasses all the the ways that this accident has affected your life; from your wrecked car to your battered physical self. If you have experienced a negative change as a result of the accident, that is a form of damage. The point of a lawsuit is to gain enough compensation to get your life back to as close to "normal" as possible, and below are just a few of the damages that you can expect to be compensated for:

Medical Expenses

This form of damage often comprises the bulk of a claim, since medical costs can soar incredibly high even for minor injuries. Be sure to seek medical care and keep good records of all of your treatment and the cost, even if you don't have to pay for any of it out of your own pocket. The dollar amount of your medical expenses is an important number, and this number plays a key role in the amount of your eventual settlement offer or court judgment.

This is also a wide-ranging category of expenses that encompasses hospitalizations, surgeries, physical therapy, medications, durable medical goods (crutches, braces, walkers, raised toilet seats, etc) and more. While you may not consider any mental health therapy you need as a result of the accident pertinent, this expense is covered and may prove to be just as vital to your return to health as regular medical care.

Lost Wages

Even a relatively minor crash could make you miss work, and keeping up with exactly how time you needed to take off from work is important. Be prepared to show a pay stub or statement that shows your hourly rate or salary information. Any time you spend taking care of accident-related issues, from dealing with car repairs to going to the pharmacy to pick up medications is reimbursable. It should be noted that if you used paid time off to attend to crash-related problems, you are also entitled to be reimbursed for those funds.

Transportation

Your vehicle should be repaired or replaced entirely, depending on the level of damage and you should be provided with a rental to bridge the gap. 

For more information, contact a local attorney, such as Finkelstein Joel M.