How Much Is Your Auto Accident Compensation Worth? Damages resulting from car accidents are designed to compensate victims for their losses. Some of these include the costs of property damage and medical bills, while others are non-economic, like suffering and pain. In New York you have three years from the time of an accident before you bring a lawsuit. However, waiting too long could harm your case. Evidence can be lost over time or destroyed. Witnesses could forget important information. Damages In the event of a crash victims may be compensated for their economic losses such as medical bills or lost wages. In addition, they can be awarded compensation for non-economic damages like suffering and pain. The amount of compensation you can receive depends on the severity of your injuries and the impact they'll have on your life. A skilled lawyer for auto accidents will help you determine the worth of your injuries and damage to property, and then negotiate an appropriate settlement with the insurance company. But, keep in mind that insurance companies are in business to make money. They will do all they can to settle your claim as cheaply as they can. You need an attorney who will fight to obtain the maximum amount you are entitled to. You may also be eligible for compensation if you own personal items that were damaged during the accident. These include your shoes, clothes and jewelry. You can also receive reimbursement for expenses relating to gardening, housekeeping or childcare if you are unable to do these things yourself due to your injuries. In determining the value of your claim, the deductible will also be taken into consideration. You will need to pay your deductible prior to the insurance company starts to compensate you for your losses. You can then sue the driver at fault to recover any remaining damages. Medical bills The medical costs resulting from a crash in a vehicle can quickly add up. The cost of an ambulance ride, hospital stay and inpatient treatment could be hundreds of thousands of dollars or more. Furthermore, the cost of physical therapy, prescription medications and other treatments can increase as the injured person continues to recover. If a driver is found to be at fault in a lawsuit, they are accountable for the victim's damages, which includes medical expenses. The law does not require that the at-fault driver be responsible for their victim's medical expenses on regularly. If you are not in a state that is no-fault the first step to getting reimbursement for medical expenses is to apply for PIP coverage (personal injury protection). The insurance coverage can cover all or most of your medical expenses dependent on the policy limits. You should also file a claim with the at-fault driver's car insurance for any liability insurance they have, as well as the uninsured motorist coverage on your personal car policy. These policies can reimburse you for medical expenses, but they typically contain deductibles and other conditions. An experienced lawyer can help you navigate through the process of obtaining reimbursement for medical expenses. This will let you save money on medical bills and focus on recovering. Lost wages Injuries from car accidents can prevent you from going to work. You may be unable to pay your bills and lose income due to. You might need to borrow money from friends or family members. A settlement could take months. During this time, you'll have to pay your bills yourself and wait for the settlement. You can claim back lost wages if you've been injured in a car crash. This could include salary and hourly wages, but it could also include other financial benefits like bonus and raises. Your lawyer can determine the actual amount of lost earnings. You can file a claim with an insurer that does not have fault or claim the person at fault for the loss of wages. The claim is typically based on the cost of your medical bills, proof that you missed work due to your injuries, as well as documentation of your lost earning capacity. It is commonly referred to as a demand package. You'll need a letter from your employer providing proof of your employment, which includes the days that you were away due to injuries and the hours you work normally. You'll need to provide your paystubs, tax documents and other relevant documents. Your attorney can assist in gathering these documents and creating a compelling demand that you can present to the insurance company or judge in your case. Pain and suffering While some of the costs associated with a crash can be calculated to the penny -- such as emergency services, medical bills as well as surgery costs, medications and lost wages, there are other expenses that cannot be quantified. These unquantifiable damages are called pain and suffering and play an important part in an injury claim. Pain and suffering includes both the physical and emotional consequences of an accident. A victim's injuries could be long-lasting and impact their lives, resulting in permanent impairment or even death. For example, an injured victim who suffers a severe brain injury is unlikely to work or function normally again. These types of injuries typically result in a large settlement. In most instances, the amount of suffering and pain that a victim experiences is contingent upon the severity of their injuries as well as how it has affected their lives. An experienced attorney will look into the specifics of your case to determine the most appropriate amount to settle. They will use previous settlement amounts for similar accidents injuries as a basis in order to give you an idea of what your case is worth. Insurance companies often try to deflect victims with claims of suffering and pain by claiming that their emotional or physical injuries aren't as serious. A skilled lawyer will resist these tactics and negotiate on behalf of you with the insurance company to ensure you receive a fair settlement.