2. The Full Scope of Economic Damages
Economic damages encompass a wide range of financial losses that you may have incurred or will incur in the future due to the car accident.
- Lost wages. This includes not just the time immediately after the accident, but also any future work you might miss for follow-up treatments or procedures.
- Any impact on your earning capacity. If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job or limit your ability to advance in your career, this long-term financial impact should be reflected in your settlement.
- Other economic damages. This might include property damage, such as repairs or replacement of your vehicle, rental car costs, and any modifications needed to your home or vehicle to accommodate your injuries.
The team at Kode Law can help you calculate these damages accurately—ensuring that no aspect of your financial loss is overlooked in the settlement negotiations.
3. Non-Economic Damages and Their Impact on Your Life
Non-economic damages compensate you for the intangible ways the accident has affected your life.
- Pain and suffering. This encompasses not just physical pain, but also emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and other psychological impacts of the accident and your injuries.
- Loss of enjoyment of life. If your injuries prevent you from engaging in hobbies, sports, or other activities you once enjoyed, this diminished quality of life should be reflected in your settlement.
- Loss of consortium. This refers to the impact of the injuries on your relationship with your spouse or partner, including loss of companionship or intimacy.
It's important to note that while these damages are more subjective, they are no less real or important than economic damages. When you choose Kode Law for your claim, Seattle personal injury lawyer Preet Kode can help you document and quantify these impacts to ensure they're properly valued in your settlement.
4. The Strength of Your Case
Before accepting a car accident settlement offer, it's crucial to assess the strength of your case.
- The evidence supporting your claim. This might include police reports, witness statements, photographs of the accident scene, and medical records documenting your injuries. The stronger and more comprehensive your evidence, the better position you're in to negotiate a fair settlement.
- Potential liability issues. In some cases, fault for the accident may be clear-cut. In others, there might be shared liability between multiple parties. Washington follows a "pure comparative negligence" rule, meaning your compensation could be reduced by your percentage of fault in the accident.
- Insurance coverage available. This includes not just the at-fault driver's policy limits, but also any potential underinsured motorist coverage you might have on your own policy.
Kode Law Firm can help you evaluate these factors objectively. We can provide insights into how a judge or jury might view your case if it were to go to trial, which can be valuable in determining whether a settlement offer is fair.
5. The Potential Timeline
Legal proceedings can be lengthy, often taking months or even years to resolve. During this time, you may be responsible for ongoing medical bills and other expenses related to your accident. We can help you weigh these concerns against the benefits of heading to trial.
6. Your Tolerance for Risk
It's worth noting that going to trial involves some level of risk. While you might have the potential for a higher award, there's also the possibility of receiving less than the settlement offer or even losing the case entirely.
That said, the threat of litigation can sometimes motivate insurance companies to offer a fairer settlement. Kode Law, with 40% of its practice focused on litigation, has the experience and reputation to effectively leverage this option when necessary. Ultimately, however, the decision to accept an offer or go to trial is yours alone.
