Car Accident Settlement Amounts

Car accidents can be stressful situations. Even in minor accidents, there can be complex problems that victims must sort through. While personal health and the health of others are the biggest concerns, it is also critical to get compensation for medical bills, lost wages, long-term medical challenges, and more.

Typical car accident settlement amounts in Arizona vary substantially. Some car accident settlements have been for more than a million dollars, while other cases have settled for far less. This large variation exists because the size of car accident settlements is related to how a victim has been impacted. This can range from short-term injuries to death.

Factors That Influence Settlement Amounts

Although the health and well-being of a victim are arguably the biggest factors influencing the number of car accident settlements, there are other factors to think about. These include:

• The number of parties likely to be found liable
• The amount of insurance coverage
• The strengths of the plaintiffs’ and defendants’ cases
• The presence of a filed lawsuit and time until the case goes to trial

It’s also important to note that your settlement amount can be decreased by the amount to which you contributed to the accident. Arizona is considered a ‘pure comparative fault’ state when it comes to liability in a car accident. This means someone found to contribute 50% to an accident, for example, would have their overall compensation for medical bills and other damages decreased by 50%.

Typical car accident settlements can be divided into two types of damages: economic and non-economic damages. Compensation for economic damages is related to any financial losses caused by the accident, such as medical bills and lost wages due to missed days of work. Typical car accident settlement amounts to injuries to a victim, which can include non-economic damages that cannot be financially measured, such as long-term pain and PTSD.

Average Settlements in Arizona

Many car accident injury claims don’t go to trial. Often, attorneys for the parties involved will reach a settlement in an attempt to move on from the situation. At Gerber Injury Law, our attorneys understand the laws related to accident cases, and our clients have received higher than typical car accident settlement amounts. Some of our settlements and legal victories in this area include:

• $650,000 for a victim after an insurance company failed to pay $10,000 in policy limits
• $500,000 for a victim unable to work after suffering neck injuries caused by an accident
• $400,000 for a case involving a hit-and-run accident
• $350,000 for a victim after an insurance company failed to pay $50,000 in policy limits

Negotiating with Insurance Companies

The amount of insurance coverage is among the biggest aspects of determining the value of a car accident settlement. If your insurance or a liable party’s coverage is lower than the total monetary damages, it’s not likely you will get the money that you need.

Arizona does require drivers to carry minimum liability coverage. Under state law, you must carry at least $25,000 in bodily injury coverage for one person, $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident for multiple persons, and $15,000 in property damage coverage.

This is usually only enough coverage to handle minor “fender bender” accidents. People involved in serious crashes often have to pursue legal action. This is why typical car accident settlement amounts with injuries can reach six figures.

When to Seek Legal Help

The ability to recover from injuries and losses is a key part of recovering from a car accident. Unfortunately, many victims do not get the settlement they need to be “made whole” — much less a typical car accident settlement amount. Therefore, it’s almost always a good idea to consult with a skilled Arizona lawyer. Experienced attorneys can advocate for the settlement you need and even take your case to court if need be.

It’s important to note that the clock is ticking when it comes to filing a legal claim. Arizona’s statute of limitations for taking legal action is two years after the date of the car accident. Also, if you are making a claim against a government entity, you must provide written notice of a claim to the entity within 180 days of the accident. After any important deadlines have passed, an attorney’s ability to help you is severely limited.

It can be hard to predict how long it will take to resolve or settle a claim once it’s been filed. While some claims are addressed in a few weeks, some can take more than a year. The length of time needed to resolve a claim comes down to the complexity of the claim, the extent of damages suffered, and the number of defendants.

It’s important not to rush a claim because seemingly minor injuries can lead to complications. Settling too soon in these situations might lead to out-of-pocket costs down the road. Once a settlement is reached, it’s final, so settling a claim just to get it over with is often a bad idea.

During the course of pursuing a claim, it can be hard to figure out if it’s better to go with an out-of-court settlement or take your case to trial. When you hear about typical car accident settlement amounts, they often seem like a fast solution to a nerve-racking situation. However, it’s critical not to take a settlement that does not give you what you actually need to move forward. An experienced attorney can make sure that nothing is overlooked when it comes to your compensation amount. Experienced lawyers can also prevent an insurance provider from paying less fair compensation.

There will be times when it isn’t possible to reach an acceptable settlement. In these situations, you will need an experienced attorney to take your claim to trial. This is often a lengthy and complex process, but it can be the only way to get the compensation that you need.

Let Our Experienced Car Accidents Attorneys Work for You

At Gerber Injury Law, our attorneys have dealt with all kinds of Arizona car accidents, and we have seen many typical car accident settlement amounts with injury claims. Our results show that we’ve recovered significant compensation for car accident victims and their families.

If you need help recovering a settlement from your car accident, contact us today or call us at 623-486-8300 to understand the nature of your potential case and how we can help you.