What Expenses Can I Claim After a Car Accident?
Posted on: June 18, 2024There’s no doubt about it—being in a car accident can come along with some pretty severe challenges. But when it comes to filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, it can be difficult to determine exactly how much your case is worth.
When seeking damages from your Florida car accident, it’s important to consider everything you’ve lost as a result of the crash (economically and otherwise). This will give you the best chance at recovering a fair amount.
In this article, we’ll go over the major expenses that accident victims claim after a car crash.
Technological advancements have done a lot to make vehicles safer, but they also can make repairs more expensive. If the other driver was at-fault for your accident, it is customary for their insurance company to pay for your damages to your vehicle (as well as any personal items inside that were damaged).
If your vehicle had moderate to significant damage and was repaired, you have a diminished value claim. This is a claim for the amount that your vehicle has lost in value due to being in an accident.
Medical Expenses
Here in Florida, drivers are required to carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, which covers medical treatment after a car crash. But PIP only covers 80% of your bills and only up to $10,000.
Even with a relatively “minor” injury, medical treatment following a car accident can cost thousands of dollars. But for a traumatic brain injury or other catastrophic injury, the medical bills can be much more costly.
Keep detailed records of all medical treatment costs (including medications) that you incur as a result of your auto accident.
Pain and Suffering
The consequences of a car accident claim go far beyond economic damages. But it can be hard to put a price tag on things like mental anguish and disfigurement.
Pain and suffering is incredibly common (and debilitating!) after many types of personal injury claims. The right lawyer will know how to factor things such as loss of enjoyment of life and anxiety into your settlement claim so you can rest assured that you are being properly compensated.
Lost Wages
If you are hurt badly enough, you may be unable to work until your injuries have fully healed, which likely means losing out on your paycheck. And PIP coverage will only reimburse 60% of your lost wages.
If you’re like most Orlando residents, every little bit helps.
Lost Earning Potential
If you are permanently injured as a result of a car accident, you have a lot more to worry about than your immediate recovery. For example, will you still be able to perform your job at the same level?
If you are unable to sufficiently complete your regular job duties, you could be looking at a significant reduction in pay over the course of your lifetime. This loss of earning capacity should be reflected in your settlement offer.
Other Expenses
When evaluating the fairness of a settlement offer, it’s important to include the cost of every out-of-pocket expense that you incurred as a result of your accident.
- Childcare
- Transportation Costs (car rental, public transportation, etc.)
- Domestic Help
- Travel Expenses (to and from physical therapy and/or doctor’s appointments)
- Towing Services
- And More
A good car accident lawyer can help you uncover any related expenses that can be directly tied to your car accident case.
Punitive Damages
Punishing the other driver may be the furthest thing from your mind, but in some cases, you may be awarded punitive damages to financially “punish” a driver who was extremely negligent.
It’s important to note, however, that you cannot be awarded punitive damages by an insurance company. They can only be awarded if your case goes to trial, which means you will need the representation of an experienced, knowledgeable car accident attorney on your side. The attorney will need to petition the Court to allow you to seek such damages, and only experienced counsel knows how to do this.
Conclusion
The only way to receive the full amount you are entitled to is to get an accurate picture of the losses you’ve experienced. Car accidents have a way of affecting every area of our lives, so it can be difficult to remember just how many expenses you’ve incurred as a result of your injuries.
That’s exactly where an experienced car accident attorney can come in handy.
At Beers & Gordon, P.A., we have handled thousands of car accident cases. We have the knowledge needed to represent your interests in mediation, and we are highly skilled at courtroom litigation. Furthermore, our experience working on behalf of car insurance companies has given us unparalleled insight into the tactics and arguments they will use.
From start to finish, our attorneys will not only help you identify all of your car accident expenses, we will work tirelessly to ensure that your rights are represented at every step.
Contact our offices today for a free consultation with a licensed attorney.
Jim Gordon
Jim Gordon earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Nebraska in 1997, and two years later began working at a firm in Orlando handling insurance defense matters on cases involving vehicle accidents, negligence, product liability, and more. He established Beers & Gordon P.A. with David Beers in 2009 to represent the rights of people injured because of negligence. He is a member of the invitation-only National Trial Lawyers organization and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
