Many people want to know how much compensation they can get if someone injures them on the road. There is a lot of debate around this, and sometimes the answers can be unclear. That’s why I’ve written this guide. Sometimes, compensation ranges from a few hundred dollars to over a million for catastrophic damages.
Types of compensation
The first thing to understand is that there are various types of compensation for a road traffic accident. Courts and insurance companies categorize these into different bins depending on the situation. Economic damages are quantifiable financial losses that include things like:
- past and future medical bills for surgeries, hospital stays, medications, and ongoing care
- lost wages and diminished earning capacity
For example, courts will take into consideration the fact that injuries can make people less productive at work and therefore less able to attain promotions or work as many hours. They’ll also factor in the fact that some people are unable to return to previous physical jobs that may have paid more and have had to take other lower-paying clerical jobs. Compensation in the economic category also includes property damage. This includes the value of vehicles that need to be written off or replaced, as well as vehicle repairs.
On top of this, an experienced accident injury attorney can assist with so-called “non-economic” damages. These include things like:
- The qualitative experience of your pain and suffering after the accident
- The emotional distress, anxiety, or PTSD that it might have caused
After a car wreck, many people experience a loss of enjoyment of life because they’re not able to go out as much as they used to. They could have also experienced disfigurement and a reduction in their attractiveness, or perhaps even lost relationships with loved ones because of it. All of these need to be taken into account when deciding on financial compensation.
Typical settlement ranges
How much money are you likely to get depending on the type of accident that you’ve experienced?
- Minor injuries: Sprains, strains, minor cuts, and whiplash usually attract settlements. Most people accept a sum of money between $5,000 and $15,000 for these injuries, as long as treatment is short.
- Moderate injuries: Herniated discs, broken bones, and concussions requiring treatment. Compensations range from $20,000 to $100,000.
- Severe injuries: Traumatic brain injuries, significant burns, permanent disabilities, and spinal damage without paralysis. These commonly attract between $100,000 and $500,000.
- Catastrophic injuries: Paralysis or multiple amputations with lifelong care can attract compensations up to $10 million. These are much rarer but they can occur.
Factors affecting the amount of compensation you receive mainly relate to the severity and permanence of the injuries. If injuries are severe but not permanent, the amount of compensation you will receive in a payout will be lower than if they were severe and permanent. Determining the amount of compensation involves:
- Lost income
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
For the last category, pain and suffering, this is often calculated as a multiplier between 1.5 and 5 times damages, depending on the type of injury sustained.
