Understandably, when someone is in a car accident they want to know, “how much is my case worth?” Naturally, the first thing to look up is to see the average car accident settlement. You’re probably dealing with medical bills, insurance payments, and pain and suffering from the accident itself and want to know if help is on the way. No one is ever prepared for when a car accident happens. Unfortunately, they can leave you dealing with issues you never thought you’d have to work through.
What makes up an average car accident settlement in Sacramento?
When it comes to car accidents, it’s very difficult to make a general comparison because no two victims are the same. The victim’s income, medical treatment, extent of injury, price of medical care, and value of vehicle all can affect the amount of the settlement. We can get an idea of the average car accident settlement by looking at the pieces that put it together. California courts recognize three different types of damages (damages are the dollar value of your injury).
1. Special Damages. Special damages are the specific monetary losses that come from the car accident. This includes past and future medical expenses, surgery or other medical treatment, lost wages, and any property damage. Special damages can be calculated easier than others because they are based on actual bills or invoices incurred by the car accident victim.
2. General Damages. General damages are those car accident victims receive for the pain and trauma of the car crash. The main one is pain and suffering, but this can also include emotional trauma, psychological, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and lost companionship, among others. These damages are very subjective and it is difficult to put a value on them because it can vary so much. It will ultimately depend on how well a victim can demonstrate their losses to a jury if the case doesn’t settle before then.
3. Punitive Damages. Punitive damages are meant to be a deterrent from acting in a similar way in the future and punish the defendant. This type of damages usually only applies to car accident claims in limited situations such as gross negligence, intent to harm, or drunk driving.
Where does the average auto accident settlement come from?
If you’ve been in a car accident, this will come from either your insurance or the other driver’s coverage—depending on the type of claim. If you have collision coverage and the crash was your fault, the insurance company will pay a certain amount to fix your car. If the cost of repair exceeds the value they may consider your car totaled and offer a lump sum based on its value.
When the crash was caused by another driver’s negligence, their insurance company should be the one to pay your losses (special and general damages above). Their offer will come in much lower than you expect.
How Much to Expect for a Car Accident Settlement in Sacramento
The average car accident settlement falls between $14,000 and $28,000—or $21,000. A more serious car accident has an average value of $31,000. The worse the injuries and damages, the higher the car accident claim will be. Injuries such as damage to the spinal cord or permanent paralysis will have much higher damages due to the costs the victim will incur throughout their life. While 99% of cases usually settle, this amount is usually less than what one could get at trial. However, the tradeoff is that juries are extremely unpredictable. It is possible for what looks like a solid case, to lose. This is something that victims and their attorneys have to evaluate based on many different factors.
We don’t recommend comparing your case to average car accident settlements. This is because every case is unique and has many different variables that can change that amount. Something as unpredictable as the jury’s impression of a case or victim can greatly impact things. The average settlement might be well below or above what you are actually entitled to under the law.
If you would like us to help you go over your medical bills, medical records, and lost wages, please give us a call at (916) 619-5452.
