What Is My Personal Injury Claim Worth?
If you have been hurt in a car wreck, there is a good chance that you are receiving medical care and that your vehicle was seriously damaged. The question is, “Who will pay for all of this?” As New York City car accident lawyers, we can explain how the process works immediately after your accident and how it is likely to shake out in the end. This is really a two-step process. When you come in for a consultation, we can also discuss what your claim may be worth.
How do I get money for my car accident?
If you were injured in an accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. However, in order to receive anything, negligence must first be proven. The other driver needs to be more negligent (at fault) than you are. In other words, if you caused the accident, you will not be entitled to receiving any money beyond what your insurance policy allows toward medical care or car repairs.
Who pays for my medical bills right away?
Your insurance company does. After your accident, you will need to call your insurance company and open a claim. They will then provide you with a claim number that can be used at your doctor’s office and at the auto body shop where your repairs are done. They will settle up with the other insurance company later.
What is my injury claim actually worth?
This is a complicated question. At Greenstein & Milbauer, we cannot guarantee that any of our clients will receive a set dollar amount. However, we can guarantee that we will work to get our clients as much as possible. Since we handle these cases all the time, we know what the typical settlement looks like after a New York City car accident. This allows us to tell you if an offer was too low, what you might get, and whether or not you should go to court.
In regards to calculating the potential value of your claim, there are several things we will take into consideration. First is the damage to your vehicle and what it cost to repair it. This, along with any expenses you incurred to rent a car, etc., can be added to your claim. Next, we will look at your medical bills and what has been spent on your treatment to date. Your doctor will need to inform us of whether or not you are likely to experience a full recovery or not. If you are going to need ongoing care in the future, we will need to calculate what that might cost. This step must be done in collaboration with your doctor to ensure that you receive a high enough settlement.
Thirdly, we will evaluate any time off work or lost wages that you have suffered. If your doctor does not believe that you will be able to return to work at all or in the same capacity, we will need to calculate the impact of that on your wages. As New York City car accident lawyers, we look at the accident and every way it has impacted your life.
Do I have to accept a settlement offer?
No. If the insurance company is giving you a lowball offer, you can reject it and opt to go to court. Whether or not you do so is entirely up to you. However, as New York City accident lawyers, we always tell our clients whether we think they are getting a good offer or should hold out.
