- September 12, 2022
Damages are an important part of a car accident case. When we first meet with a new client, one of the first questions they ask is how much their case is worth. There’s nothing wrong with this. In fact, the only reason people hire a car accident lawyer in Buffalo, New York is so they can get damages. As much as people say they want justice, what they really mean is that they want to be compensated for their injuries. This is what our Buffalo injury attorneys do. They work hard to get their clients the damages they deserve.
Since every case is different, it’s impossible to say with any certainty what your case is worth. We would need to review your claim and determine what kinds of damages you may be entitled to. However, we can give you an idea of what types of damages you may receive. Here, we’ll discuss the various types of damages our Buffalo injury attorneys demand for our clients. If you were recently involved in a car accident in New York, give us a call. We can sit down and review your case and give you an idea of what it may be worth.
Every Car Accident Case is Different
As stated above, all car accident cases are unique. One client may have suffered serious injuries that required them to remain in the hospital for weeks on end. Another client may have had significant property damage, but the only injury they suffered was whiplash. It’s the little things like this that can make a big difference in how much a case is worth. This is why our car accident lawyers in Buffalo, New York like to sit down and thoroughly review a client’s case before we give them any idea of what it’s worth.
It makes sense to go over the different types of damages you could recover in your car accident case. This way, you have an idea of what kind of damages you may be entitled to before you head in to meet with one of our Buffalo injury attorneys.
Your Car Accident Lawyer in Buffalo, New York Will Demand Reimbursement for Medical Bills
It’s usually a given that you’ll be reimbursed for any medical expenses you incurred as a result of your car accident. This includes any out-of-pocket expenses such as doctors’ co-pays, prescription medications, and durable medical equipment. But it also includes any monies that your private health insurance carrier paid out in relation to your claim.
For example, if the other driver’s insurance company refused to pay your claim, your private health insurance carrier will cover the costs of your hospital stay, surgeries, and the ambulance ride. Your private health insurance company will expect to be reimbursed when you settle your case. In fact, sometimes the insurance company will put a lien against your case to ensure that they are paid in full at settlement.
You Can Also Demand Compensation for Damage to Your Vehicle
There’s a good chance that your vehicle was damaged or destroyed during the accident. Most people can’t wait for their case to settle to have their vehicle repaired. Your Buffalo injury attorney will submit copies of your mechanic’s bills as evidence of your damages.
If your car was totaled in the crash, the defendant will be liable for the replacement value of your car. Keep in mind, you are only entitled to the fair market value of your vehicle at the time of the crash. The other driver will not have to purchase you a new vehicle, they will only have to compensate you for its fair market value.
Your Buffalo Injury Attorney May Be Able to Get You Damages for Lost Wages
Depending on the seriousness of your injuries, you may miss a significant amount of time from work after the crash. If you only missed a week or two, you’ll be expected to use any personal time or vacation time you have to cover those missed days. If, however, you missed more than a couple of weeks from work, your car accident lawyer Buffalo, New York will demand compensation for your lost wages.
What your attorney will do is submit payroll records showing how many days you missed from work. They will submit this along with recent pay stubs to show what your hourly rate was. Whatever monies you lost as a result of the crash will be listed as part of your damages in your initial complaint.
Many Accident Victims are Entitled to Lost Future Income
Some accident victims’ injuries are so severe that they are no longer able to do the same kind of work they did before the accident. If this is the case with you, your Buffalo injury attorney could demand compensation for lost future income. They will need to first demonstrate that you can no longer perform the same job that you had prior to the accident. They will then need to establish what your income will be now that your skills have been limited.
Whatever the difference is between your prior income and your future income can be listed as part of your damages. You’re attorney will multiply the difference by the number of years you have left until retirement. They will then take this total amount and account for inflation and include this as part of your damages.
Pain and Suffering May Make Up the Lion’s Share of Your Damages
As long as your injuries were significant, there is a good chance you’ll be entitled to damages for pain and suffering. In most of the cases we handle, pain and suffering make up the lion’s share of our clients’ settlement. The general rule our car accident lawyers in Buffalo, New York use to calculate pain and suffering is simple. We take whatever your medical bills were and multiply that by three. Of course, before you can receive damages for pain and suffering, your lawyer will have to prove that you experienced mental and physical anguish after the crash.
Reach Out to a Car Accident Lawyer in Buffalo, New York
If you’ve recently been involved in a motor vehicle accident, there’s a good chance you’re entitled to damages. As long as your car accident lawyer in Buffalo, New York can prove the other driver was at fault, you will be entitled to compensation. If you are wondering how much your case is worth, it’s a good idea to give us a call. We can schedule your free, initial consultation over the phone or through our website today.
