What is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident in Washington State?

What is the average settlement for a car accident in Washington state? The average amount of a car accident settlement does not exist due to the considerable variations among cases.

The extent and severity of injuries, shared fault, and insurance coverage all impact how much you can recover. However, a Seattle car accident lawyer will fight to secure you the maximum amount in your case.

The Severity and Extent of Your Losses Dictates How Much You Need in a Settlement

The average settlement for a car accident is affected by the extent and severity of the losses you have suffered. Accidents that result in serious or catastrophic injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, spine injuries, organ damage, or burns, require long-term care. In these situations, the lifetime costs of the injury must be taken into consideration to make sure all health care needs are included.

Your medical expenses are a key factor in any car accident settlement, since injuries are likely to make up the bulk of your losses. Depending on your injuries, you may require rehabilitative services, home and vehicle accommodations, and assistive equipment or technologies during recovery or permanently.

The extent and severity of your losses often create a baseline that shows the scope of your need. Your injuries also shed light on how much income you are losing as a result of time spent away from work due to recovery or disability. Once these aspects have been established, other factors that can influence the final compensatory outcome of your case will be considered.

The Sum of a Car Accident Settlement Can Be Impacted by Shared Fault

Partial fault can significantly impact the amount you can recover in a car accident settlement. While it does not bar you from recovering your losses, any level of contribution can result in a reduced settlement.

Washington uses a pure comparative fault approach to shared fault cases, which means you can recover a settlement as long as you are not 100% at fault.

Fault is carefully evaluated in car accidents to determine each party’s role and make sure they are compensated appropriately. Even though you can still recover damages, a small percentage of fault can cost you a considerable amount in a settlement. If the value of your losses is $150,000 and you are 20% at fault for the accident, you will lose $30,000 of your settlement to offset your liability.

Because shared fault can affect the average car accident settlement so much, it is important to have a lawyer handle your case. They know how to optimize it and reduce your liability so your settlement does not suffer. Legal representation can also protect your settlement from parties who would seek to claim you were more at fault than you actually were at the time of the accident.

Insurance Limits and Bad Faith Tactics Can Negatively Impact Your Claim

The other driver’s insurance policy limits may have a bearing on the outcome of your settlement. Their policy limits may only meet the minimum state requirements for insurance, or they may have additional coverages as part of their policy. Some drivers may be uninsured or underinsured and cannot cover the damages they cause. In this case, you may have to file a claim with your own insurance company.

Insurance companies may also use different strategies to avoid paying you so they can protect their bottom line rather than you. They do this by trying to blame you for causing the accident, issuing lowball settlements, causing intentional delays, or denying your claim based on a technicality. If you do not have a lawyer representing you, you could very well end up without enough compensation to cover your losses.

Hiring a lawyer before you file your claim can save time and a lot of stress. They can make sure you submit the right information and have enough evidence to support your claim, so there is less risk of pushback from insurance adjusters.

Types of Losses Covered by a Car Accident Settlement in Washington

While all of the factors mentioned here affect how much compensation you can recover, they also impact what losses you can recover. Vehicle accidents may result in vastly different losses, and your settlement will comprise the specific ones you have suffered. You are generally able to recover a mix of financial losses and pain and suffering..

Monetary losses you can recover in a claim may include a variety of medical expenses, lost wages, property damage expenses, and death benefits in the event of a fatality.

Pain and suffering can provide for reduced quality of life, emotional and mental distress, loss of enjoyment, and loss of companionship or support.

Puget Law Group has a long history of getting case results for our clients. Each settlement was negotiated to meet their needs and ensure they had the necessary resources to help them rebuild their life. When you have been wrongfully injured, you have the right to pursue financial relief to alleviate your losses, and your lawyer will make sure that all expenses and suffering are accurately calculated.

Delayed Action Could Prevent You from Recovering a Settlement

The statute of limitations on personal injury accidents can impact your ability to take action and recover your losses.

According to RCW 4.16.080, you have three years to file a claim. If this timeframe expires before you can act, you will lose the right to recover a settlement at all. To make sure this does not happen and you have enough time to thoroughly resolve your case, it is important to act swiftly.

Consult Puget Law Groups Today

Puget Law Group is dedicated to securing the maximum amount of compensation for you, regardless of your circumstances.

We understand that compensation can make a big difference when you are facing any degree of loss from a car accident, and we work diligently to make sure you receive it. Schedule a free consultation today to discuss your potential car accident settlement in Washington state.