Potential Compensation For An Auto Accident

By Author: Stam Bett
Total Articles: 452
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If you've been badly hurt in a car accident that wasn't your fault, you may eventually wonder what your case could be worth. Assuming another person was primarily at fault for the accident, you are entitled to receive compensation, even if you were partially at fault. After all, you may be left with chronic pain, piles of medical bills, lost wages and much more. A Miami personal injury attorney may be your best chance to get the compensation you deserve, as insurance companies will do their best to deny your claim, minimize your damages and offer you the least amount of cash possible.

Here's a brief overview of the potential forms of compensation a personal injury lawyer in Miami may be able to help you recover.

Property Damage
If you were in a car accident, your car was probably damaged pretty extensively. If a third party is at fault, you have the right to have these damages paid for. Insurance companies will usually pay the fair market value for your vehicle, which means the cash you would have received had you sold your vehicle before the accident. A Miami personal injury attorney, though, may offer ...
... help by having an appraiser give you a lost value report to estimate damages. You may also be entitled to the cost for a rental car.

Medical Expenses
If you were hurt, a personal injury attorney in Miami can help you recover the cost of necessary and reasonable medical bills. It's important to hire a lawyer with a proven track record of trying these cases, however, as they will help you put together your bills and calculate the precise cost with the correct medical coding system. They will also help you track and maintain evidence for your out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a result of the car accident, such as your co-payments and deductibles.

Lost Wages
Have you been forced to take time off work to recover from the accident? Have you been injured so severely that your earning capacity is now reduced? If so, you are entitled to compensation for your gross lost wages and lost earning capacity. To determine your lost earnings, you will need to calculate the total hours you missed as a result of the accident if you are paid hourly. If you receive a salary or you are self employed, this area can get more complex. You may even be able to request compensation for maid services if you need assistance caring for yourself and your family.

In the case of a fatal car accident, surviving family members may receive compensation for lost wages, a pension or retirement plan and social security benefits as well.

Pain and Suffering
Also known as general damages, this type of compensation is not at all easy to calculate. A personal injury attorney in Miami can help you calculate how much pain and suffering your case is worth, and this will include the pain you are in and the frequency, any scarring or disfigurement, loss of companionship and more.

Punitive Damages
Finally, your personal injury lawyer in Miami can counsel you about possible punitive damages. This type of compensation is possible if your case is presented before a jury and evidence supports it. Punitive damages are used as a punishment for the responsible party, but they are not common and insurance companies will not pay for them based on the driver's behavior. Choosing an experienced personal injury lawyer in Miami may help you receive punitive damages, though, if your case warrants them.

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