General - Auto accidents are the result of another party’s intentional, reckless or negligent actions. In some cases, the accident can be the result of both parties’ wrongful actions.
Injuries - There are two general forms of injuries: immediate and delayed.
Immediate - immediate injuries occur at the scene of the accident and include: deep cuts, broken bones, and/or severe whiplash. If you experience one of these injuries you should call 911 and seek medical attention immediately.
Delayed - delayed injuries are caused by the accident, but develop in the future. Therefore, it is important to visit a medical professional after your accident to determine the extent of any immediate or delayed injuries that you may have suffered.
Damages and Value of a Claim - An auto accident may cause you to incur expenses for something that was not your fault. These expenses are referred to as damages. The amount of your damages will determine the value of your car accident claim. It is important that you keep an accurate record of all damages which you have incurred due to the accident. This will help us determine the value of your case. The most common forms of damages are the following:
Medical Bills - all past, current and future medical bills related to your accident. The most common examples of medical bills are doctor bills, ambulance fees, and costs of prescriptions.
Lost Wages - all lost wages which you have suffered and/or will suffer as a result of the accident. To ensure we account for all of your lost wages we need to obtain documentation from your employer which supports your lost wages claim.
Loss of Earning Capacity - you may recover damages for lost earning capacity if you can show that your ability to earn money in the future has been impaired.
Property Damage - the measure of damages to your automobile is determined by the extent of the damage to the property. If your car is destroyed or damaged beyond repair, the measure of damages is the difference between the fair market value of your car immediately before the accident and its market value after the accident. In a serious accident, the value of the car will be only its salvage value or in some cases nothing.
Other Expenses - all expenses directly related to the accident. The most common types are car rental fees and expenses for traveling to and from medical appointments.
Emotional Damage - common examples of emotional damage are loss of sleep and anxiety.
Pain and Suffering - the amount of pain and suffering you are entitled to will depend on the severity of the accident and the injuries that you suffered.
Loss of Consortium - this relates to the loss of the benefits of married life when one spouse is injured. The uninjured spouse makes the claim and only has a chance of recovering if the injured spouse succeeds in recovering damages. Sometimes, however, the injured spouse makes the claim as well. Married life benefits, the loss of which recovery is based, include companionship, affection, comfort, solace, help, and sexual relations.
Legal Representation - legal representation is necessary so that you can protect your rights and recover the damages which you have suffered. The Insurance Research Council found that individuals who obtain legal representation for their car accident claims receive settlements that are three and a half times greater than those individuals who do not obtain representation.
Attorney’s Fees - generally our attorney’s fees in accident cases are paid on a contingency fee basis. A contingency fee is based on a percentage of what we recover for you. This means we are not paid a fee, unless we recover money for you.
If you have been involved in a car accident, contact Ryan Pauley at the Pauley Law Group, pllc. He is an attorney and focuses on low and high impact cases.
The material on this web site is for informational purposes only. We are not providing legal advice. Using this website does not create an attorney-client relationship between Pauley Law Group, pllc and the user or browser. You should contact the attorneys at Pauley Law Group, pllc directly to obtain legal advice or legal representation.
