Table of Contents
- Car Accident Damages Estimate: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Your Claim
- Damages Estimate Worksheet
- 1. Out-Of-Pocket Damages (Also Known as 'Special Damages')
- 2. Damages for Physical Injury
- General Damages for Physical Injury
- Damages for Lost Limbs
- Damages for Lost Organs
- 3. Intangibles — How Your Life Has Changed
- Other Intangibles to Consider
- Learn More About Your Claim by Contacting an Attorney
Ready to Publish
Ready to Publish
Author
OG Image (1200x630)
Excerpt
Understanding car accident damages is crucial for anyone considering a personal injury claim. This comprehensive guide walks you through the process of estimating damages and highlights the importance of consulting an experienced attorney near you to navigate your claim effectively.
Meta Description
Discover how to accurately estimate car accident damages in this comprehensive guide. Learn about out-of-pocket expenses, physical injury damages, and the importance of consulting an experienced personal injury attorney near you to navigate your claim effectively.
Slug
personal-injury/common-personal-injury-cases-legal-implications/motor-vehicle-accidents-protect-your-rights/what-to-do-after-car-accident-protecting-rights-securing-compensation/resolving-car-accident-claims-settlements-compensation-legal-options/car-accident-damages-estimate-personal-injury-claim
Alt Image Text
Heroic attorney holding a damages worksheet, standing on a wrecked car surrounded by accident victims, symbolizing guidance in personal injury claims.
Related Posts
Global Tags
Parent item
Sub-item
Hide in Main Feed
Hide in Main Feed
Post Id
675
Updated
Jan 28, 2025 08:36 PM
Featured
Featured
Hide CTA
Hide CTA
Hide Cover
Hide Cover
Car Accident Damages Estimate: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Your Claim
When you suffer car accident injuries you think are the fault of another party (or parties), you can file a personal injury claim for damages. Damages are the costs associated with an injury. You claim these when filing a lawsuit. You'll get damages if the court finds the defendant liable for your injuries.
Damages aren't always easy to calculate. Often, your attorney can point out more damages indirectly related to the claim. These include the costs associated with travel to physical therapy clinics and loss of wages.
You may need long-term or even life-long medical help stemming from your car accident injuries. See Economic Recovery for Accidents and Injuries for a more complete list with detailed explanations. You can also review FindLaw's Injury Damages section for more articles and resources.
The following worksheet gives you a general idea of the damages involved in your case. To understand the strength of your claim and the damages involved, consult a lawyer.
Damages Estimate Worksheet
This worksheet helps create an inventory of known costs. It doesn't attempt to calculate the value of your physical self or your life's quality as before your injuries.
1. Out-Of-Pocket Damages (Also Known as 'Special Damages')
Below, enter the dollar amounts you've spent or are estimated to spend in each category.
- Doctors' bills
- Ambulance bill
- Hospital bills
- Private nurses
- Medicines/drugs
- Medical supplies
- Travel/lodging arising from the need for medical treatment
- Wheelchairs, walkers, prostheses, a handicapped-accessible vehicle, or other special implements
- Future medical expenses
- TOTAL MEDICAL BILL AND MEDICAL DAMAGES
- Household help
- Lost income
- Other work losses
- Future losses
- Loss of earning capacity
- Increased cost of living
- Special training/occupational therapy
- Property damage
- TOTAL OUT-OF-POCKET DAMAGES
To get a sense of how an insurance company might value your case, make the following calculations:
- Method No. 1: Multiply your total by 3
- Method No. 2: Multiply your "medical" damages by 5
2. Damages for Physical Injury
To estimate your physical injury damages, check all that apply below. Then, rate the severity of each checked injury on a scale of 1 (not serious) to 5 (catastrophic). Don't worry about dollar amounts for these items:
General Damages for Physical Injury
- Pain and suffering
- Future pain and suffering
- Total disability
- Partial disability
- Future disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Your spouse's loss of your services
Damages for Lost Limbs
To estimate your damages for lost limbs, check all that apply, then rate the severity of each checked injury on a scale of 1 (not serious) to 5 (catastrophic). Again, don't worry about dollar amounts for these items:
- Dominant hand/arm
- Nondominant hand/arm
- Foot
- Leg below knee
- Leg mid-thigh
- Leg at hip
Damages for Lost Organs
To estimate your damages for lost organs, check all that apply, then rate the severity of each checked injury on a scale of 1 (not serious) to 5 (catastrophic). Again, don't worry about dollar amounts for these items:
- Kidney
- Lung
- Back/neck injury
- Head injury/brain damage
- Other
3. Intangibles — How Your Life Has Changed
The following questions can help you get a sense of the types of things a jury may consider when deciding how much to award you in damages:
- Which of your injuries are visible? Which are invisible?
- What physical pain did you experience when you were first injured?
- What physical pain did you experience as you recovered from your injury?
- Do you still feel physical pain from your injury? Yes/no
- How do you feel about your injury and how it has affected you? Anxious? Humiliated? Angry? Fearful? Frustrated? Resigned?
- What physical activities and hobbies did you enjoy that now cause you pain? Examples include sports, gardening, woodworking, sewing, playing a musical instrument, cooking, and playing with children
- What household chores now cause you pain? Examples include cooking, laundry, cleaning, ironing, washing the car, and engaging in yard work or snow removal
Other Intangibles to Consider
Beyond the above questions, a jury might also consider your answers to the following when deciding how much to award you in a personal injury case:
- What social activities have you had to reduce or abandon? Examples include entertaining guests, club activities, dancing, attending concerts or plays, going to museums, and going out with friends
- Are you still able to help people when they need help? For example, can you still babysit your grandchildren?
- What plans for the future have you had to change or abandon?
- Are there any other changes in your day-to-day life resulting from your injuries?
Learn More About Your Claim by Contacting an Attorney
Putting a dollar amount on your auto accident injuries isn't as simple as adding up your medical care receipts. Injuries typically affect both your life and finances in direct and indirect ways. To be sure you can harness the law to your advantage, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to learn more about your car accident claim and get legal advice. An attorney can also help you navigate auto insurance and the insurance claim process. ReferU.AI is the only platform that leverages AI to efficiently and accurately assess each user's unique legal needs and objectively recommend attorneys based on their proven success in similar cases according to actual court records. By providing smarter results, users gain easier access to better representation and outcomes.
Written by
