The truth is, there’s not one. Every case is different. Determining a car accident settlement average is difficult because settlement amounts depend on the type of crash, how badly you were injured, the amount of your medical bills and lost income, how much insurance is available and where the lawsuit would be filed, among a variety of factors. An Athens car accident lawyer can document your injuries and help you file for compensation.
In the most tragic circumstances, the average settlement for fatal car accident claims is substantially higher. These wrongful death actions focus on the full value of the life of the deceased, including projected lifetime earnings and loss of companionship.
At Ruppersburg Injury & Accident Attorneys, we focus on the facts of your case to ensure the insurance company does not undervalue your losses.
What Is the Typical Car Accident Settlement Amount in Georgia?
There is no single car accident settlement average mandated by law. Settlements range from several thousand dollars for people with minor injuries to seven and eight-figure settlements when someone is catastrophically injured or killed.
If you’re injured and get better in a couple of days or weeks with minimal medical treatment, you have a small case that may be worth several thousand dollars. If you break a bone, have surgery or require many months of medical treatment to recover, you have a more significant case that may be worth into the six or seven figures. If you have a catastrophic life-changing injury, such as losing an arm or leg or paralysis, your case may be worth seven to eight figures. Cases involving the death of a loved one often settle for seven to eight figure amounts.
Factors That Affect Georgia Car Accident Settlements
Here are some factors that can affect your settlement.
1. Total Medical Expenses
Your settlement should cover all costs related to the injury, including ambulance fees, emergency room visits, surgeries, and prescriptions.
2. Future Medical Needs
If your injuries require ongoing treatment or future surgeries, you can include these costs in your settlement. However, you must have medical proof, usually from your doctor, that you are likely to need the future treatment. Once you settle your case, it’s over and you cannot return to ask for more money if your condition worsens later.
3. Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
You can recover the income you lost from the day of the accident until you return to work. If your injuries prevent you from returning to work or force you to work in a job that makes less money, permanent disability prevents you from returning to your previous career, you may also seek future lost income but that typically requires testimony from your doctor and other expert witnesses, such as vocational rehabilitation counselors and economists, to prove your future lost income.
4. Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering is to compensate for the physical and mental effects of the accident on you, your family and your quality of life. There is no calculator or formula to calculate pain and suffering and it’s up to the jury to decide, though insurance companies often use the “multiplier method,” where they multiply your total medical bills and lost income by a factor (ranging from 1.5 to 5) based on how much the injury has disrupted your daily life. You can read more about how to determine compensation for pain and suffering here.
5. Where the Lawsuit is Filed
You usually have to file the lawsuit in the county where the other driver lives, though there are exceptions. Some counties have a history of higher verdicts than others. Cases in these counties usually settle for more money. Then there are counties that have a history of low verdicts or defense verdicts. Cases in these counties usually settle for less money.
6. Available Insurance Coverage
It’s an unfortunate truth that many accident victims’ financial recovery is limited by how much insurance is available to compensate them. In Georgia, drivers are required to have a minimum of $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident but many drivers often have more coverage. If your accident involves a business, corporation or trucking company, there should be much more insurance. If you have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, that can provide more coverage for you to make a claim against.
7. Whether You Were at Fault For The Wreck
If you were partially at fault for the wreck, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if your damages total $100,000 but you are found 10% at fault, your recovery is limited to $90,000. If you are found 50% or more at fault, you are legally barred from recovering any damages.
8. Strength of Evidence
A police report that clearly assigns a citation to the other driver strengthens your position. Other evidence, such as dashcam footage, witness statements, and cell phone records, can eliminate liability disputes and lead to a faster, higher settlement.
How Long Does It Take to Settle a Car Accident Claim in Georgia?
Most Georgia injury claims take between six months and two years to resolve. The most important factor is how long it takes you to recover from your injuries. We generally advise clients not to settle their case before they are recovered. This is because once you settle the case it’s over and if your injuries worsen or you need additional treatment you’ve given up your right to seek compensation.
. Once you’re done treating, we request all of your medical records and bills and send a settlement demand to the insurance company. Georgia law gives them 30 days from the date they receive it to respond and settlement negotiations can often several weeks or months after that. If the insurance company refuses a fair offer, filing a lawsuit starts a discovery process that can add twelve to eighteen months to the timeline.
How Our Georgia Car Accident Lawyers Can Maximize Your Settlement
At Ruppersburg Injury & Accident Attorneys, we use the following strategies to protect your financial recovery:
- Conducting Independent Investigations: Our team visits accident scenes to secure video from nearby businesses, interview witnesses in person, and preserve electronic “black box” data from vehicles.
- Using Expert Accident Reconstruction: In complex crashes, we bring in specialized experts to recreate the scene. These professionals use skid mark analysis and vehicle black box data to prove speed and impact force, which is essential for maximizing the average car accident settlement in disputed cases.
- Calculating Future Medical Requirements: We coordinate with your treating physicians to understand the long-term impact of your injuries. This allows us to include projected costs for future surgeries, physical therapy, and chronic pain management in your demand.
- Applying Georgia’s Comparative Negligence Laws: Insurance adjusters often try to shift 50% or more of the fault onto the victim to bar recovery. We use evidence to prove the other driver’s liability, protecting your right to a settlement even if the defense attempts to claim you were partially responsible.
- Quantifying Pain and Suffering: Georgia law does not use a rigid formula for non-economic damages. We present a detailed record of how your injuries have changed your daily life, using medical testimony to justify higher multipliers for physical pain and emotional distress.
- Aggressive Negotiation With Insurers: Insurance companies prioritize their profit margins. We handle all communications and reject “low-ball” initial offers. Our attorneys prepare every case as if it is going to trial, which forces insurers to take our settlement demands seriously.
- Preparing Every Case for Trial: Insurance adjusters track which law firms settle quickly and which are willing to go to court. By preparing every case as if it will go to a jury, we show the insurance company that we are ready to litigate if they refuse to make a fair offer.
Contact Our Georgia Car Accident Lawyers Today
If you were injured in a crash, do not accept the first check from an insurance company. Ruppersburg Injury & Accident Attorneys offers consultations to discuss your injuries, insurance coverage, and potential compensation.
Contact our Georgia car accident lawyers at 706.354.1000 to learn how much your claim may be worth and what steps to take next.