You focus on doing everything you can to prevent a car accident from taking place. You only drive on it is light outside, you do not drink and drive, and you even put down your cell phone when you get behind the wheel of a car. Unfortunately, the other driver doesn’t do the same, and you end up in a motor vehicle accident. Of course, the accident is not your fault, so you should not be responsible for the expenses related to the collision. At the same time, is your car accident payout fair? Should you accept the offer? There are a few important points that you need to keep in mind.
Can You Fix Your Car?
The first question you need to answer is whether you can fix your car. If the accident was not your fault, you certainly should not be responsible for paying to repair your motor vehicle. When you take a look at the settlement offer, you need to compare this to the damage your car has suffered. Before you accept the offer, you need to take your motor vehicle to a collision or body center. Make sure they take the car apart. You want to see everything underneath as well. Make sure you get an accurate estimate of how much it is going to cost to fix your car.
Can You Pay for Your Medical Bills?
Next, you need to make sure the car accident settlement is enough to pay your medical bills. You may feel like you are totally fine following a motor vehicle accident, but similar to your car, you might not be fine underneath the surface. You need to see a doctor following a motor vehicle accident. Make sure the doctor is comprehensive in his or her exam. You might not feel any pain right now, but you will probably be pretty sore in the morning. Any car accident settlement has to be enough to cover your medical expenses. Even if you have health insurance, your out-of-pocket expenses can still be significant following a motor vehicle accident.
Can You Return To Work?
Furthermore, you need to see whether you can return to work. Do you have a job? How much time can you take off? Do you think you will be let go following your injuries? Do you think your boss will stop paying you? Your car accident settlement needs to be enough to replace any lost income due to the collision. If you cannot return to work for a year, then your car accident settlement should be enough to replace your income for a year. This can be a difficult challenge to overcome, so you should always reach out to an attorney who can review your accident and make sure your situation is being treated fairly. That way, your car accident settlement is enough to cover all expenses related to the event.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer for Help
Ultimately, there are a lot of factors involved in your car accident settlement. Even though the first number from the insurance company might sound like a lot of money, it is not necessarily enough to cover all of your bills. Furthermore, it is not necessarily commensurate with the severity of the accident. The only way you can truly know if your settlement offer is fair is if you reach out to a personal injury lawyer who can help you. An attorney with experience in this area can review the circumstances of your accident, take a look at your injuries, and make sure the insurance company is presenting you with a fair offer.
