While many car crashes are minor, some result in serious injury. On average, New York sees more than 1,000 deaths and 12,000 hospitalizations each year due to traffic accidents.
When a person is injured or killed in a car accident, they have suffered some degree of damage. The damages they have suffered will vary based on the crash since no two accidents are the same.
There are various damages that a car crash victim can suffer. They can be lumped into two main categories: economic and non-economic damages. Read on to learn more about the types of damages available in a car accident.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are losses that can be quantified and easily calculated. They may be things that you pay for out of pockets, such as medical bills, vehicle repairs and other property losses. Medical bills include ambulance rides, hospitalization, surgeries, medications, medical devices, lab work, tests, rehabilitation and anything else involved with your injuries.
Economic damages can also include lost wages. If you miss work because you are injured, you can calculate how much money you lost using your hourly wage or salary.
Economic damages can also include future losses. For example, if you know you will need surgery in the future, you can receive compensation for the cost of the surgery and related damages, such as time off work.
Non-Economic Damages
Unlike economic damages, non-economic damages are hard to calculate. These damages are considered human damages because they affect the person as a human. These damages are often emotional or mental in nature and include things such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring and disfigurement.
Putting a value on these damages can be difficult, but a lawyer will make calculations based on the severity of the injuries, similar cases and how badly the accident has impacted the victim’s day-to-day life. For example, a brain injury will impact a person’s life much more than a broken leg, which will heal after several months. A person who can no longer run or participate in the sports they love will suffer more than a sedentary person who was not very active.
Sometimes a multiplier is used to come up with a value. Sometimes the decision is left to a judge or jury. In any case, it is not uncommon for the non-economic damages to be much higher than the economic damages simply because a person can be affected by non-economic damages for many years or even the rest of their life.
Focus Your Search on Car Accident Lawyers
Most personal injury lawyers that can handle car accidents. But that doesn’t mean you should work with them. It’s always best to work with an attorney that specializes in car accidents.
When an attorney specializes in a specific type of injury, they’re more familiar with the obstacles you face, the treatments you go through, and the damages you cope with. They’re better prepared to help you get the most out of your suit as possible.
Once you’re ready to start searching, look for attorneys that specialize in car accidents. This way, you’ll get the best representation possible.
Ask Around
Car accidents are incredibly common. This means you probably know someone who has worked with an accident attorney at some point in the past. Use this to your advantage.
Ask your friends, family, and coworkers for recommendations. If they’ve worked with an attorney in the area or no someone who has, get that information as soon as possible.
Remember, if they had a good experience with the attorney, you can expect to have the same experience.
If you don’t know anyone who’s worked with a car accident attorney, you can start your search online. Just remember to choose someone local who can give you the individualized attention you deserve.
You can expect to meet with your attorney in person at least a few times during your lawsuit. If they’re not based in your area, it will make getting to those meetings a challenge.
Research Their Reputations
Once you have a few names of attorneys in the area, dig a little deeper. Research their reputations online and see what their previous clients have to say about their services.
Start with online reviews and try to get an overall impression of their reputation. If most of the reviews are positive, you can expect to have a similar experience. But if most of the reviews are negative, keep looking.
You should also research their professional reputation with the state. If past clients filed complaints or the state disciplined the attorney in the past, the site will show that information.
Remember, complaints don’t necessarily mean that the attorney won’t fight for you. Use your discretion, review the complaints, and see what happened to resolve the issue.
If you’re still uncomfortable, keep looking. You need to feel confident in your attorney’s ability to represent your case. If you’re not confident or comfortable with them, it may be difficult for you to open up and discuss your accident in detail.
Schedule a Consultation
The best way to decide if an attorney is worth hiring is to meet with them. Schedule a consultation with each attorney on your list.
These consultations should be free. If an attorney tries to charge you for the consultation, walk away immediately.
During the consultation, get to know the attorney. Pay attention to the types of questions they ask and make sure they answer your questions clearly and concisely. If they brush your concerns aside or don’t show much interest in your case, keep looking.
Affordable attorneys do not mean low-quality attorneys. You still want to choose someone that’s responsive and invested in helping you every step of the way.
Get the Details on Their Fees
Believe it or not, attorneys charge for their services in different ways. Some charge an hourly rate while others charge a flat fee for their services. But the best accident attorneys work on contingency.
This means they only get paid if you win your case.
The actual amount will vary based on the settlement you receive. Your attorney will get a percentage of your settlement amount. And you’ll know what that percentage is before you agree to work with them.
Ask About the Additional Fees
Even if an attorney works on contingency, there may still be other fees they expect you to cover. Before you agree to work with them, make sure you understand what (if any) additional fees they might expect you to pay.
If they seem unreasonable, keep looking.
Don’t Focus on Price Alone
When it comes to legal representation, you don’t always get what you pay for. Some of the most expensive attorneys may not be able to represent your case well. But that doesn’t mean you should choose the cheapest attorney out there.
Instead of focusing solely on price, take a holistic approach.
Think about how the attorney treated you during the consultation. The best attorneys should put you at ease while explaining the possible issues in your case in a way that’s easy to understand.
Pay attention to their experience and their success rates. If they’ve worked for car accident victims for years and win the majority of the cases they take on, they’re worth considering.
Even if you have to pay a little more for the best attorney, you’ll likely make up for the added expense with your settlement.
Use their fees and prices as a guideline. But take care to choose an attorney you trust and believe will represent your case the best.
Final Thoughts
Finding the best car accident lawyers doesn’t have to be a challenge. Go with your gut, interview multiple attorneys, and choose the one that you feel most comfortable with.
If you got injured in an accident, don’t wait to seek the legal representation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our dedicated legal team.
Get Hurt? Get Gary!
A car accident can be life-changing. A victim can suffer various losses, including medical bills, vehicle damage, lost wages, pain and suffering and more. Recovering these losses can be frustrating.
If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a car accident seek legal help from the Falkowitz Law Firm. We can determine liability and help you with financial recovery while you focus on your physical recovery. Schedule a free consultation today. Call our office at 844-GET-GARY.
