- September 9, 2021
- Car Accidents
- Personal Injury
What Is a Car Accident Attorney?
A personal injury attorney who specializes in car accidents has the knowledge, experience, and expertise to take on car accident cases with your best interests in mind. These lawyers help car accident victims build a personal injury case to seek compensatory and sometimes even punitive damages. Compensatory damages include economic and non-economic damages. Economic includes medical bills, lost wages, future medical bills, therapies and rehabilitation services, transportation to appointments, and property damage. Non-economic compensation covers the pain and suffering, mental and emotional anguish, and loss of enjoyment of activities associated with serious injuries.
Punitive damages are sought in cases of negligence or willful, fraudulent, or malicious actions causing the personal injury as a way to punish the defendant further. The experienced car accident lawyers at Goodman Acker know when to pursue punitive damages, depending on the details of your particular case.
Do I Need to Hire an Attorney for a Car Accident Claim?
The simple answer here is no. You're not required to hire an attorney to represent you in a car accident claim. However, it's in your best interest. Car insurance companies have attorneys working on their side to minimize claim payouts and may work to give you as little as possible if an attorney does not represent you.
Car accident lawyers are also incredibly well-versed in all aspects of a car accident claim and can help you get the compensation you deserve. They will work with you from the moment they take your case to examine the evidence and build a lawsuit against the defendant to get you a fair settlement while protecting your rights.
What Is the Average Car Accident Settlement?
Unfortunately, there's no way to give one answer to this question as no two cases are the same. The attorneys at Goodman Acker will take into consideration your injuries, property damage, future medical bills, and pain and suffering to go after a settlement that's fair based on their experience. With over 150 years of combined experience, the team at Goodman Acker knows what to ask for in car accident claims and will do their best to make sure you get it.
What Factors Influence the Amount of a Car Accident Settlement?
Many factors are considered when putting together a car accident claim. You can expect a higher result if your case involves spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or wrongful death. Factors considered include:
- Who was at fault for the accident?
- Did you miss any work as a direct result of the injuries sustained in the accident?
- Did you seek medical attention immediately following the accident?
- What type of insurance does the negligent driver carry?
- Are any other insurance coverages available, such as uninsured or underinsured motorists?
- Did the negligent driver have any car insurance coverage?
- Do you have any permanent limitations or restrictions due to the injuries sustained in the accident?
- Have you experienced any pain and suffering, mental or emotional anguish, or reduction in activities you previously enjoyed?
- Who is the lawyer representing your case?
While we can't control many of these factors, we can control who represents you on your car accident claim. Trust the car accident attorneys at Goodman Acker to get you what you deserve.
How Long Does it Take for a Car Accident Settlement?
Again, there's no one answer here as each case varies from the next. Factors that affect the process include:
- Severity and type of injuries.
- Medical prognosis.
- Rehabilitation time.
- Current medical needs.
- Future medical needs.
- Ability to return to work.
- Disputed liability.
From filing a claim through discovery, you can expect the process to take up to several months. Discovery is a phase where both parties are allowed to receive documents and ask each other questions to build their case.
If an agreement is reached, the process is done, and you can expect to receive timely payment, typically within 30 days of signing the Settlement Release Agreement. Most cases take up to a year from start to settlement. Cases that involve minor children or wrongful death may take longer for a settlement and usually end up at trial. If the parties are unable to agree, then a trial may be set. A trial can take more than a year, and a judge will award the settlement. At the end of the trial, either party can appeal the decision, thus extending the timeframe even further.
Examples of Car Accident Settlements With Goodman Acker
For over 150 years, Goodman Acker has been helping personal injury victims all over Michigan win settlements for their injuries. A few examples include:
- Oakland Country auto accident $225,000
- Detroit auto accident $250,000
- Wayne County auto accident $300,000
- Macomb County auto accident $325,000
- Wayne County auto negligence $760,000
- Wayne Country auto accident $875,000
- Ann Arbor multi-vehicle accident $890,000
- Westland auto accident $1,000,000
As you can see, the experienced car accident lawyers at Goodman Acker seek the highest compensation possible for victims based on their injuries, lost wages, medical bills, and future needs. We have a 99% success rate in winning cases to maximize the compensation for our clients to minimize the financial burden caused by the car accident.
If you or someone you love has been involved in a car accident, reach out to the highly experienced team at Goodman Acker today. We'd be happy to answer any questions you may have or get you set up for a free consultation. We're available for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week by phone or via our online contact form. Let's get you started on the road to compensation.