subject: What Is My California Car Accident Worth? [print this page] If you have recently been the victim of a car accident in the state of California you will eventually get around to wondering what your car accident case is worth. Whether your car accident left you with only minor injuries or catastrophic injuries, the bottom line is that if the accident was not your fault then you should not have to pay for the damages, says car accident attorney Emery Ledger of Ledger & Associates. So it is completely natural to start asking yourself what your case is worth.
Many people are under the mistaken belief that there is a magic "formula" that insurance companies use to determine the value of a car accident case. The truth is that no such formula exists. Each case is different and there are an infinite number of factors that go into determining what a car accident case is worth. This misconception about how the value of a case is determined is what leads many victims to decide against hiring a car accident attorney. Studies have shown, however, that on average victims that are represented by a car accident attorney receive as much as twice the amount in their settlement awards as victims that do not retain a car accident attorney for their case. The reasons for this disparity are numerous.
The value of your car accident case can depend on factors such as the extent, number and severity of your injuries, the cost of your past, present and future medical treatment, the percentage of fault assigned to the other driver, your present and potential earning capacity before and after the accident, your age and general health at the time of the accident and the affect the accident had on you emotionally and psychologically. Each one of those factors can be complicated to put a monetary value on. For instance, your medical bills to date may be easy to calculate but what about the likelihood of future medical bills that are a direct result of the accident? Fault is another big area of debate in many California car accidents. You may be certain that the other driver was 100% at fault but their insurance company may not agree with you. When you retain the services of an experienced car accident attorney, it is his job to sift through all the evidence, reports and testimony and make sure that you get every penny that you are entitled to in your case. Many car accidents have lasting effects that may cause you pain and suffering for years to come. Taking a modest settlement now that the insurance company offers you may seem easy but you may regret that decision in the years to come when the injuries from the accident come back to haunt you.
The bottom line is that your California car accident case is probably worth more than you think it is. The only way to know for sure is to consult with an experienced Los Angeles car accident attorney as soon as possible.
