After an accident, insurance adjusters look over all the damages and try to arrive at a dollar value for your damages. There are several factors that contribute to determining value of a Georgia injury claim, and you'll want to speak to a Villa Rica personal injury lawyer about the specifics.
How Insurance Carriers Determine Value of a Georgia Injury Claim
Insurance companies go through the following process to determine value of a claim:
- add up all the damages; and
- subtract a percentage equivalent to your fault in the accident.
This process is more complicated than you think, and insurance carriers may try to downplay or disregard certain damages to avoid paying a large sum. This is why having a lawyer on your side acting as your advocate is necessary in these types of cases.
Basic Types of Damages
When you've been in a Georgia accident, expenses can add up quickly. In addition to your medical expenses, insurance companies will look at a wide range of intangible damages that are more difficult to arrive at a dollar amount.
There are several categories of basic damages that affect the bottom-line value of injury claims such as the following:
- Medical Expenses - medical bills, physical therapy, rehabilitative services and medical recovery aids;
- Future Medical Treatments - your physician's medical prognosis and estimated future treatment costs; and
- Lost Wages - the loss of income you had because of your injuries between the time of the accident and the time of settlement.
Other expenses that are more difficult to prove, such as loss of your ability to receive a promotion at work or emotional stress can also be factored into your Georgia injury claim, but it's not a cut-and-dried mathematical formula.
Because insurance companies might try to lowball you, you should contact a Villa Rica personal injury lawyer before proceeding with your claim. Avoid making any decisions, agreeing to recorded statements or signing any papers without first talking to your lawyer.
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