If you ever suffer an injury in a car accident, you might consider filing a lawsuit against the person responsible. If you are, you’re probably curious if it’s even worth the hassle. You may be asking yourself “what is the average car accident injury settlement?”

Here, we discuss what you can expect from your car accident injury settlement.

Are Online Car Accident Settlement Calculators Accurate?

Since every car accident case has unique circumstances, online car accident settlement calculators cannot accurately estimate a settlement amount. In reality, car accident settlement calculators are clickbait, not useful tools to help people calculate their car accident settlements.

There are factors that affect a car accident settlement that can give you a more accurate picture, though. In most car accident cases, the following factors affect the value of your settlement, including:

  • Liability,
  • Severity of your injuries,
  • Medical bills for treating your accident injuries,
  • Lost wages during recovery, and
  • Negligence.

Due to these varying factors, an average car accident settlement cannot be calculated. However, car accident lawyers use this information to determine the value of your particular case.

What Are the Most Common Car Accident Injuries?

Car accident injuries range anywhere from minor scrapes and bruises to permanent disability. Typically, the most common injuries people sustain in a car crash are:

  • Whiplash,
  • Broken bones or ribs,
  • Scrapes or bruises,
  • Traumatic brain injuries,
  • Internal bleeding,
  • Herniated discs,
  • Knee injuries, and
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder.

Since the severity of your injuries affects your car accident settlement amount, make sure you get examined by a doctor as soon as possible after an accident. You may not feel some injuries until days or even weeks after the crash.

Whiplash

This injury occurs in most minor and major accidents. A sudden impact causes muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your body to move faster than normal. As a result, these soft tissues suffer trauma which causes soreness.

Broken Bones or Ribs

Broken ribs, arms, legs, hips, and shoulders are very common in car accidents. Rear-end or side impacts put tremendous amounts of force on your body, causing bones to break. These painful injuries require a long period of recovery and rest.

Scrapes and Bruises

You might receive scrapes and bruises from loose items hitting you during a car accident. This includes glass, bags, or even your phone. While scrapes and bruises seem minor, they pose a risk for complications including infection.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

TBIs, or traumatic brain injuries, are among the most serious injuries in car accidents. These long-lasting brain injuries, if not treated properly, lead to complications with brain function, including chronic headaches and insomnia. Traumatic brain injuries may be difficult to diagnose and usually require lifelong treatment.

Internal Bleeding

Injuries which cause internal bleeding must be treated immediately after a car accident. If the bleeding isn’t treated quickly, it could result in severe medical complications or death. Always find medical care after an accident to make sure you don’t have life-threatening injuries.

Herniated Discs

A herniated disc is when one or more vertebrae in your spine shifts out of place, breaks, or ruptures. This injury often causes permanent physical disability in more serious accidents and requires lifelong treatment and possibly several surgeries.

Knee Injuries

When your knees hit the dashboard during an impact, they may tear ligaments, break, or slide out of place. You may need crutches, braces, or surgery to correct or rebuild your knee. These injuries are incredibly painful and difficult to recover from, especially since they affect your ability to walk.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Not all car accidents cause physical injuries. In some cases, victims might suffer from emotional or mental trauma because of their accident. PTSD often makes daily routines impossible to complete because of crippling anxiety or fear. This condition requires consistent mental health treatment.

Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

Working with a car accident lawyer greatly increases your chances of getting high car accident settlement amounts. When you file a claim with the insurance company, they do everything in their power to offer you the lowest acceptable amount for your settlement. If the adjuster knows you are struggling with bills, they try to get you to accept a low settlement out of desperation.

A lawyer helps take the measures necessary to protect your claim. Not only do they document all of the facts about your case, but they also handle negotiations for you. An experienced car accident lawyer helps even the odds against insurance companies.

If you need money while you wait for your settlement to come through, a lawsuit loan might be a good option for you. Lawsuit loans help you stay afloat financially during the settlement process. Instead of accepting payments through interest, lawsuit loan companies take a percentage of your settlement.

What Types of Injuries Typically Result in the Largest Car Accident Settlements?

While the average car accident settlement depends on several factors, head and back injuries usually result in a higher settlement.

At Nova Legal Funding, our internal research finds that clients who need a spinal fusion surgery due to herniated discs on average recover anywhere between $300,000 and $600,000.

What is the Most Critical Evidence in a Car Accident Injury Case?

The most critical evidence in a car accident injury case are photographs, medical records, and witness testimonies. To win your case, you must prove that the other driver acted negligently and, as a result, caused your injuries or damages.

Medical records, including treatment statements from your doctor, help show the severity of your injuries, while photographs and witnesses serve as visual and testimonial evidence of who is at-fault in your accident.

How Do I Know if My Car Accident Lawyer is Doing a Good Job?

If you suffer injuries in an auto accident, you need a lawyer who advocates for your best interests. The best car accident lawyers always:

  • Get accident reports on your behalf;
  • Visit the scene of your accident to get evidence;
  • Obtain copies of your medical records and bills;
  • Gather potential witnesses;
  • Respond immediately to your emails, calls, texts, etc.
  • Gives you an estimate of your settlement based on your case; and
  • Communicates with insurance companies and defense attorneys on your behalf.

You should avoid lawyers who force you to talk to a case manager or fail to communicate with you. If you suspect that your lawyer isn’t doing their best work for your case, get a second opinion from another attorney.

Apply for a Lawsuit Loan Through Nova Legal Funding Today

When you get into a car accident, you might have a difficult time keeping up with living expenses, medical bills, or legal fees. At Nova Legal Funding, we provide pre-settlement lawsuit loans for plaintiffs who need help while waiting for their settlement. We guarantee the lowest interest rates in the industry and offer risk-free loans, which means you pay us nothing unless you win your case.

If you have any questions about the average car accident settlement or want to apply for a pre-settlement lawsuit loan, give us a call at 866-985-0472. We provide cash advances to qualified applications within 24 hours of approval.