At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, our Georgia auto accident attorneys understand that car accidents bring a tremendous amount of stress and uncertainty. Accident victims are forced to deal with the physical pain of their injuries, while also struggling to determine how their medical bills will be paid and how they will support their families while off work. Faced with these momentous concerns, some car accident victims will rush to accept the first settlement offer that comes their way. However, there is considerable risk in accepting an early settlement without the assistance of an attorney. Once you have accepted a settlement offer, you cannot seek further damages for your injuries. Accordingly, your future medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and any negative impact on your career will likely not be covered.
For these reasons, it is imperative that you find a personal injury attorney who can help you to obtain a fair settlement. The following is a look at some of the primary factors that will influence what constitutes a fair settlement in your case:
- Medical expenses: Settlements will generally begin with an evaluation of your medical costs incurred thus far. This will include hospital bills, doctor’s visits, prescription drug costs, and more.
- Lost wages: If your injuries have required you to take time off work, you will need to obtain compensation for those losses. Lost wages will usually translate to the money you would have earned if you were healthy.
- Future medical expenses: This calculation gets slightly more complex. A fair settlement offer will not just take into account your current medical expenses, but also your future expenses, if any are anticipated. If your injuries will require ongoing physical therapy or frequent doctor’s trips, the anticipated amount should be included in your settlement.
- Future lost wages: Some injuries will continue to impact your professional career. If you are disabled and can no longer return to your job, your settlement offer should include compensation for your long term lost wages.
- Pain and suffering: Pain and suffering is a difficult thing to quantify and your attorney will prove essential in assigning a monetary figure to these damages. Pain and suffering damages can vary widely. The more severe your injuries, the higher your pain and suffering damages should be.
- Punitive damages: While not included in an out of court settlement, the possibility of a punitive damage award can drive up your settlement figure. Punitive damages are not routinely awarded and will be included only in situations of gross negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct. Your attorney can advise you as to whether you would potentially receive these damages in court.
Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law: Georgia Auto Accident Attorneys
If you or a loved one is injured in an automobile accident, the Georgia Auto Accident Attorneys at Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, are here to help. Our law firm provides essential assistance to accident victims across Georgia and in the Southeast. We have over 39 years of experience and strive to provide you with the outstanding representation you need to mount your strongest case. The sooner you act after your accident, the greater your chances of obtaining a full recovery. As such, it is important that you seek the assistance of a licensed lawyer as soon as possible. Call Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law, 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED® (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.
