If you were rear-ended by another driver, chances are low your case will go to trial. In fact, you might not even file a lawsuit. The vast majority of these claims get settled out of court. To that end, it’s important to know the steps you can take to maximize your settlement.
For one, you should never discuss settling your claim until you have completed your medical treatment (or are very close to doing so). The idea is you should be as close to your maximum medical improvement as possible so that you know the full extent of your damages and the amount you need to be properly compensated.
In general, rear-end collisions are not as difficult to settle as other types of accident claims, as liability usually is not a big question. The main issue at stake will be the scope and severity of the injuries you have suffered.
Determining a settlement amount
The value of your claim will be determined just like that of any other type of accident: by factoring in the amount of damages you sustained. There is no specific formula followed when determining settlement amount for rear-end accident cases, but the value will usually be based on two factors:
- Economic damages: Damages with a clear value, such as medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitative costs and other definitive losses suffered because of the accident.
- Noneconomic damages: Damages determined by a multiplier that cannot be as easily defined, such as pain and suffering.
For further guidance on getting the best possible settlement in a rear-end collision claim, contact an experienced Manatee County auto accident lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh.