Injured in a car accident?

Estimates on typical car accident settlement amounts can vary. Here’s what you need to know.

 

If you’ve spent any time researching “typical car accident settlement amounts,” you already know that this is a difficult subject to get to the bottom of.

Depending on who you ask—and even where you live—you will get a wide range of numbers. So how can you possibly know what to expect?

While I’m not an attorney, I do spend a good amount of time treating car accident injuries and dealing with insurance companies. So come along as we take a deep dive into Florida car accident settlements to give you some insight into your car accident claim.

 

Typical Car Accident Settlement Amounts

A quick Google search shows that even typical car accident settlement amounts consist of a wide range, usually somewhere between $10,000-$60,000.

It’s important to note that this is just an average; plenty of car accident cases will settle for far less, others for far more.

But ultimately, the “average” settlement amount does not matter. What matters is the settlement amount of your car accident claim.

How Car Accident Settlements Work

Before making a settlement offer, the insurance company will do a detailed investigation of the accident and all related documentation. You will likely be asked to provide medical records and bills, proof of lost wages, photographs of the accident, and more.

The insurance company will then make you an offer based on what it feels is fair compensation for your injuries. You (and your attorney) usually negotiate until you arrive at a settlement amount that is acceptable to everyone.

Importantly, the purpose of car accident settlements is not to pay for a cruise or new car, but to fund your future medical treatment and reimburse past medical bills that insurance hasn’t already covered.

For this reason, it’s impossible for any chiropractor or blog article to give you an exact answer on your settlement amount.

Each individual’s injuries and expenses are unique, which means settlements need to be looked at on a case-by-case basis.

 

How Are Car Accident Settlements Calculated?

Even this is not an easy question to answer, as insurance companies use widely different methods to arrive at a number.

However, they usually consider the following factors:

• The nature of the injury;
• The severity of the injury;
• The cost of past and future medical treatment;
• Lost wages;
• Pain and suffering.

For example, a fatality will often lead to a much larger car accident settlement than a concussion.

Get the Most Out Of Your Car Accident Settlement

Once you receive your car accident settlement, you cannot go back to the insurance company and ask for more, so it’s important that you make it last.

Depending on your injuries, there are a number of medical treatments you can pursue. Traditional medicine usually relies on things like medication, physical therapy, and/or surgery, but these methods can be expensive and cause uncomfortable side effects.

Chiropractic treatment, however, is a much more affordable alternative that works with your body to treat issues at the source.

Rather than treating pain and other symptoms as they pop up, chiropractors work by relieving pressure on the nerves, muscles, and joints to let your body heal naturally. Chiropractic treatments are less invasive, more affordable, and—in some cases—just as effective as traditional medicine.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Florida, it’s imperative that you seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

According to Florida law, you only have 14 days from the date of the accident to pursue medical treatment in order to use your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. If you wait longer than that, you will have to pay for any and all medical expenses through your health insurance policy or out of your own pocket.

 

Treat Your Car Accident Injury at Oviedo Chiropractic

At Oviedo Chiropractic, we are no strangers to the havoc that car accidents can wreak on the human body. But we are equally familiar with the difference that chiropractic care can make on the road to recovery.

If you’re concerned that your car accident settlement won’t be enough to cover your ongoing medical care, consider giving chiropractic treatment a try! Adjustments and medical massage are not only affordable, but they can also be extremely effective at reducing pain and inflammation.

Schedule an appointment today to get started!