A car accident can lead to devastating consequences, often with severe injuries, vehicle damage and other losses. Victims can file a car accident claim against the liable party to recover damages. However, many people do not believe that filing a claim is worth the effort — but that’s often because they do not understand the value of the average claim.
Before filing a claim, it can help to understand how much you could recover from a successful case. Here are some basics you should know:
Damages you could recover with a successful case
There are several kinds of damages you could recover with a car accident claim. If the claim is successful, you could be entitled to the following types of compensation:
- Medical bills for treatment, hospital stay, long-term disabilities and care and medical equipment
- Lost wages during your recovery and future lost wages
- Repair or replacement costs for a vehicle and other property
- Funeral expenses for burial or cremation
- Pain and suffering, loss of companionship, depression or anxiety
Almost everything you have lost as a result of a car accident could be recovered with a successful claim. This could help you combat financial strain because of your bills and losses.
How fault affects the amount of compensation you can recover
It is crucial to identify who is at fault for a car accident claim when calculating damages. Even if you were partially at fault for a car accident, you could still recover damages under Oregon’s modified comparative negligence laws. These laws allow you to recover compensation so long as you are not more than 50% responsible for your own injuries.
However, the damages you are then due may be reduced based on the percentage of fault assigned to you as the claim develops. In other words, if you are found to be 30% at fault in a case with $100,000 of damages, you would only receive 70% of that amount, or $70,000.
Proving the liable party was more at fault for your losses can help you recover maximum compensation. Legal guidance can help review your case and identify damages you could recover from a car accident case.