What Is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident?

What Is the Typical Car Accident Settlement?

There is no average settlement for a car accident because every case is different. The circumstances, injuries, and damages differ, so the settlement you receive may be different than another accident victim’s settlement. Instead of considering the average payout, you should focus on recovering fair compensation based on your unique case.

Working with a car accident attorney is one way to learn how much your case might be worth. Our experienced team offers free consultations for crash victims. Call (954) 633-8270 to learn more about how we can help you pursue a fair car accident settlement. 

How To Determine the Value of Your Car Accident Case 

The potential settlement value of your car accident depends on several factors. These include:

• The severity of your injuries
• The cost of your accident-related expenses 
• The price of your ongoing expenses related to the accident 

Our Miami car accident lawyer can analyze your case to determine which damages you can recover.

Once we have taken all your losses into consideration, you will have a better idea of how much money you could recover in a settlement. 

What Should You Expect in Accident Settlement?

In Florida, the average accident settlement is approx $15,000. The settlement amount increases when injuries are severe. The amount you get depends on the severity of injury and damage, legal fault, and ability of the opposite party to pay your claim.

When you get involved in a car accident, your insurance agency and other driver-related coverages are responsible for compensation for your damage and injury. If you are faulty for the accident and have collision coverage on your vehicle, the insurance company bears the amount required to fix your car. If the amount required to repair the damage of your vehicle is more than the cost of your vehicle, the insurance company considers your car as demolished and provides you some lumpsum amount as per its worth. 

When the other vehicle’s driver is at fault, their insurance company compensates for your losses, damage, and suffering.

Our Attorneys Determine What a Fair Settlement Is for Each Car Accident Case

When our Florida car accident lawyers represent an accident victim, one step of the process is deciding what a fair settlement would look like. We cannot negotiate with the insurance company or otherwise consider an offer until we know the expenses and losses our client experienced because of their crash, injuries, and treatment. 

This requires us to identify your recoverable damages, document them, and assign a value to the case. In a case against an at-fault driver, this could include: 

• Pain and suffering 
• Medical bills to date
• Future medical and care costs for your injuries
• Income losses
• Diminished earning capacity for lasting injuries
• Property damage to your vehicle

While bills and receipts show many of your monetary damages, we often need to work with experts or use our experience with similar cases to determine how much your non-economic damages might be worth. We handle this process and determine the appropriate settlement range of the case before negotiations begin.

This allows us to guide our clients through the legal process with a goal in mind. If the insurance company does not make a fair offer, we may consider taking the lawsuit to trial and asking a jury to award a verdict and compensation for our client.

Seeking Compensation After a Car Accident

After a car accident, you can file an insurance claim or a lawsuit for compensation. In some states, you can file a claim with your insurer to recover compensation for medical bills. Under Florida Statutes § 627.730, Florida requires all drivers to carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage. Since Florida is a “no-fault” state, accident victims can file a claim with their own insurance company for help paying their medical bills. 

However, this is not the full story. Victims can sue for car accidents under some circumstances. Our team can assess your case to help you hold the at-fault party accountable by filing a lawsuit against them. 

Our Miami car accident attorneys handle these cases for clients, representing their best interests and fighting for justice. We do not believe crash victims should have to pay for their own medical care, lost income, or other losses. We help them hold careless and reckless drivers accountable.

Who Owes You Compensation After a Car Accident? 

You can pursue compensation from the party that caused the accident. In your case, the at-fault party could be: 

• A drunk driver
• A distracted driver 
• An aggressive driver 
• A car manufacturer 
• A maintenance technician 

We must prove the liable party was negligent before we can pursue a fair settlement. Our team will prove: 

• The liable party owed you a duty of care 
• They did not maintain their duty of care, instead acting with negligence 
• Their negligence was the cause of your accident 
• You suffered damages 

You Have a Limited Amount of Time To Pursue a Settlement After a Car Accident 

You should begin seeking compensation quickly after your accident. This is because each state has filing deadlines you must adhere to if you plan to file a lawsuit. In Florida, for example, you typically have four years to file a personal injury lawsuit, per Florida Statutes § 95.11

Discuss Your Car Accident Settlement With Our Team

The Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato is here to support you after a car accident. We can explain your options and how a Florida car accident attorney can help seek a fair payout. You can speak with a member of our team during a free initial consultation by calling us at (954) 633-8270. Don’t wait to get started on your case. Contact us today.