Motor vehicle collisions are disruptive and often incredibly expensive as well. Driving and even riding as a passenger in a vehicle come with a degree of risk. People never know when someone else might break the law and cause a wreck.
Collisions occur for a broad range of reasons, ranging from excess speed to intoxication. When it is clear that another motorist is at fault for a crash, the people affected by a collision may want to pursue compensation. To do so, they first need to determine what damages they sustained because of the wreck.
What types of damages can people integrate into their compensation claims after motor vehicle collisions?
Property damage losses
Even minor fender benders are likely to generate significant property damage. The cost of repairing a vehicle can add up to thousands of dollars. If a vehicle sustains structural damage, the insurance providers may declare the vehicle a total loss.
Purchasing a replacement vehicle can be even more costly than repairing a damaged one. If the driver at fault has only the $25,000 in property damage coverage required by law, that may not be sufficient.
There may be other property that people have to replace after crashes as well. Electronics, jewelry and even designer clothing can end up destroyed in a car crash scenario. The fair market value of those resources can contribute substantially to the overall value of an insurance claim or lawsuit.
Medical expenses
When people get hurt in crashes, they may have significant medical costs. Emergency treatment expenses from a hospital can add up to tens of thousands of dollars. Injured people may also require future care in the form of physical therapy or symptom management services.
They may also need to consider whether their injuries may affect their mobility and quality of life as they age. The future care costs related to a car crash injury can be as expensive, if not more costly than, the initial trauma care that people require.
Lost wages or earning potential
When people sustain injuries because of a car crash, they may require time away from work to heal. In more serious cases, they may have to change professions. A worker who loses a limb or sustains a spinal cord injury may not be able to return to the same profession.
In the most severe cases, people may never work again at all. They may need assistance estimating their long-term lost earning potential to hold the party at fault for the crash responsible.
Pursuing justice after a motor vehicle collision requires an understanding of compensation options and a clear estimate of total losses. Those negatively impacted by car crashes may need help determining their total losses and pursuing compensation from the party at fault, and that’s okay.
