No law firm can determine a fair settlement offer until they’ve investigated the client’s rear-end collision. More specifically, the settlement offer should depend on the exact cost of the client’s accident-related damages.
A fair offer is one that covers both current and future damages. Anything less is unfair, as a lesser offer will require you to pay out of your own pocket for an accident that you (presumably) did not cause. Speak with Spaulding Injury Law about what might be a fair amount for your injuries.
Factors Affecting the Value of a Rear-End Collision Settlement Offer
Each rear-end collision occurs at different speeds, involving different vehicles, under different circumstances. It is critical that your car accident attorney calculate your damages based on your accident and the unique ways that the accident has affected you.
Some of the variables that may determine the fair value of a settlement are:
- The severity of your rear-end collision: While there are exceptions, rear-end collisions that happen at high speeds have the greatest capacity to cause injuries. Therefore, the severity of your rear-end accident could be a substantial factor in the cost of your damages.
- The injuries resulting from your accident (and their severity): The National Safety Council (NSC) notes that the severity of injuries has a direct effect on the cost of medical care, work losses, and other damages. Disabling injuries, for example, cost more than $100,000 on average (and that does not even account for non-economic damages).
- The share of fault for the accident: If someone is 100% responsible for causing your accident (as is often the case with rear-end collisions), they may be responsible for covering 100% of your accident-related damages.
- The amount of damage your vehicle takes: Differences in vehicle repair costs can affect the cost of an accident. For example, it may cost far more for a person who drives a Mercedes to repair their vehicle than someone who drives a Kia. Every instance of vehicle damage requires a fair financial recovery, no matter what vehicle you drive or how severely it is damaged.
- Your unique response to the accident: Each rear-end collision victim has a different response to their accident. If you have substantial emotional and psychological problems after the accident, the value of your settlement should reflect these struggles.
The car accident attorneys at Spaulding Injury Law have accurately valued damages for many rear-end accident victims. We take a consistent approach to valuing damages that accounts for both economic and non-economic damages.
Specific Damages Your Lawyer Will Look For When Calculating Your Settlement
Though every accident victim has different damages with different values, our lawyers never overlook a single one. We consider every possible type of harm a victim can suffer, which includes:
Mental Health Problems
Motor vehicle accidents can cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Other mental health problems resulting from a motor vehicle accident may include:
- Depression
- Generalized anxiety
- Fear of riding in motor vehicles
- Difficulty sleeping
- Lost quality of life
Severe mental health problems can affect every corner of your life. Our lawyers will work alongside mental health professionals as we diagnose and determine the cost of your pain and suffering.
Physical Pain
Both acute and chronic pain may entitle you to compensation. We may include the cost of your physical pain in the category of damages known as pain and suffering, which will also include your accident-related mental health problems.
Professional Damages
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries that can result from a rear-end accident. This and other injuries may prevent you from working, resulting in the following:
- Lost income
- Lost earning power
- Missed bonus and promotion opportunities
- Lost productivity
- Diminished status with your employer
Long-term injury symptoms may cause a rear-end collision victim to lose their job or even their career. This can be financially and psychologically devastating. You deserve fair compensation for any professional damages stemming from your rear-end accident.
Medical Expenses
A rear-end collision may require you to:
- Take emergency transport
- Become hospitalized
- Visit numerous doctors
- Undergo rehabilitation
- Take one or more medications
- Purchase medical equipment
Medical care is not free—it’s typically quite expensive, in fact. Even if health insurance covers your healthcare costs, you could face increased premiums and other costs. It is ideal for liable parties to cover your accident-related medical expenses.
Property Costs
A liable party should cover the cost of repairing your vehicle. They should also cover any damage to your clothing, cell phone, jewelry, accessories, and other property damaged during the accident.
Even two people who suffer similar accident types may have vastly different damages and settlement values. The lawyers at Spaulding Injury Law view our clients as people, which allows us to see how their accidents affect them on a human level. We’ll determine the exact cost of your accident-related damages, ensuring the settlement we seek is a fair one.
Who Should Pay for the Cost of a Rear-End Collision?
Motorists are often responsible for rear-end collisions. Driving behaviors that increase the risk of a rear-end collision are:
- Tailgating, which means driving too closely to the vehicle ahead of you
- Driving while intoxicated or on drugs, as impairment typically slows response times
- Driving while distracted or tired
- Stopping abruptly in the roadway without good reason
- Changing lanes without checking blind spots
Any liable motorist (or their insurer) should pay for your accident-related damages. If another party is responsible for your accident, they should cover the damages. Motor vehicle manufacturers and municipalities are among those who could be liable for a rear-end collision.
Insurance Companies Often Extend a Quick, Cheap Settlement Offer
Insurance companies are typically involved in rear-end accident cases. Georgia law requires motorists to maintain auto insurance. This insurance provides compensation when a motorist strikes another vehicle in the rear, causing injuries and property damage as a result.
Insurance companies don’t always pay what they owe willingly. Insurers make money by withholding compensation, not paying it out. Therefore, you should not be surprised if an insurer:
- Blames you for a rear-end accident, even if it is obvious that you are not at fault
- Offers quick but cheap settlement offer, hoping you’ll accept and free the insurance company from further financial responsibility
- Delays your claim, hoping you will become financially desperate and accept its lowball settlement offer
- Misrepresents the details of an insurance policy, believing that you (or your lawyer) will not read the policy
Insurance companies act in bad faith, often with a financial motive for doing so. Your attorney from Spaulding Injury Law will hold insurers accountable for the policies they issue, demanding all of the money you are entitled to.
How an Attorney Can Help You Calculate Damages and Fight for a Financial Recovery
When you hire a motor vehicle accident lawyer, you should expect them to lead every step of your case. That’s what Spaulding Injury Law offers. We help victims of rear-end accidents by:
- Calculating damages: We cannot pursue a fair settlement if we don’t know how much your damages cost. Therefore, calculating the cost of your accident-related damages is a high priority for our legal team.
- Documenting your damages: Our team will secure any medical bills, medical records, and other documentation proving your damages from the rear-end accident.
- Getting all relevant evidence: Video footage, witness accounts, reconstructions of the accident, and the police report from your accident may all be key pieces of your case.
- Completing the administrative aspects of your case (which are critical): The Spaulding Injury Law team will manage communications, paperwork, and all other administrative demands. Handling communications is especially important. Anyone who might seek to harm your case will have to deal directly with us.
- Negotiating a settlement: Your lawyer will lead settlement negotiations on your behalf. We will have evidence, documentation of damages, and our settlement calculation in tow. Together, these pieces will form a compelling case for the settlement you are seeking.
- Taking your case to court: While many rear-end collision cases settle, Spaulding Injury Law is always ready for court. This separates us from certain other personal injury firms serving Georgia.
We offer end-to-end legal services. This way, our clients can rest and recover without losing sleep over their insurance claims or lawsuit.
How Do I Choose a Law Firm to Fight for My Rear-End Collision Settlement?
When evaluating law firms to lead your rear-end collision case, you should weigh the following:
- Whether the law firm regularly handles motor vehicle accident cases
- How much compensation has the firm won for its clients
- How the law firm collects its fee
- How did you feel during your free consultation with the law firm
- Reviews that former clients have left for the firm
Spaulding Injury Law offers an appealing offer to prospective clients. We provide total financial support, promise attentive service, and are willing to fight for your financial recovery at trial.
Call Spaulding Injury Law Today for a Free Consultation and Legal Assistance
We may have a limited time to seek compensation for your rear-end collision. Don’t wait to speak with our team.Call Spaulding Injury Law today at (770) 744-0890 for your free consultation. You can also provide your case details online, and our team will contact you.
