Auto collisions can leave victims with emotional trauma, exorbitant vehicle repair bills, and injuries that are incredibly expensive to treat. If you’ve injured your shoulder in a car accident, you might wonder how much you could receive from an insurance claim or lawsuit.
Considering the number of variables involved in a car accident, it’s difficult to say how much the average settlement is worth. The compensation you receive may differ from other settlements depending on the losses you’ve experienced. Learning more about the damages available to car accident victims can help you calculate how much your claim is worth.
Damages You Could Receive for a Shoulder Injury Caused by a Car Accident
If your car accident claim yields compensation, you may be awarded a number of different damages. The damages you receive can help you recuperate from your shoulder injury and reduce some of the negative effects that your injury has had on your life. Depending on your situation, an attorney may pursue any of the following damages on your behalf:
Medical Bills
These damages can be put towards the cost of your hospital treatment, doctor’s visits, specialist appointments, and any other medical care you need for your shoulder injury. They can also pay for prescription medication, assistive devices, and physical therapy.
An attorney can work with your healthcare providers to determine how much you’re owed for treatment-related losses. Once they’ve calculated all the expenses you deserve compensation for, they’ll be able to determine how much your car accident shoulder injury settlement should be worth.
Income-Related Damages
Recovering from a serious shoulder injury can significantly affect your income. If you’ve had to stay home from work to rest, undergo physical therapy, and attend medical appointments, you’ve probably missed several or more paychecks. Fortunately, the money you receive from a car accident claim can replace a portion of your lost wages.
If your shoulder injury is permanent and you work in a profession that requires physical labor, you might have to find another job to support yourself. If that happens, you may also receive damages to make up for your reduced earning capacity.
Additional Damages
In addition to damages geared towards helping you recover from your shoulder injury, a successful car accident settlement can also yield compensation to cover the following losses and hardships:
- Vehicle repair costs
- Pain and suffering
- Mental distress
- Diminished quality of life
How to Know if You’re Eligible to Pursue a Shoulder Injury Settlement
If you’ve been in a car crash, you might not know if you’re eligible to pursue compensation. While consulting with a lawyer is the easiest way to find out if you’re entitled to a shoulder injury settlement, you can also consider the following:
You Have the Symptoms of a Shoulder Injury
You’ll want to seek medical attention immediately if you’ve experienced any signs of shoulder or rotator cuff injury after a car crash. It’s highly unlikely that your insurance company will offer a settlement based on your testimony alone.
A doctor can diagnose you and offer documentation that can be used to secure your insurance settlement. The common symptoms of car accident shoulder injuries include the following:
- Pain
- Weakness
- Tingling
- Swelling
- Numbness
- Stiffness
- Limited range of motion
You’ve Been Diagnosed With a Shoulder Injury
If you’ve been diagnosed with a shoulder injury by your doctor or a specialist, there’s a good chance you’re eligible to pursue compensation for your medical bills and other losses. A lawyer can use your doctor’s testimony and your medical records to convince insurers that you deserve a fair settlement.
You’re Within the Statute of Limitations
In the state of New York, there’s a time limit for car accident lawsuits. To get the money you need to treat your shoulder injury, you must submit your suit before the state’s filing deadline for personal injury lawsuits.
CPLR § 214 states that you have three years to file a lawsuit from the date of your collision. If you delay legal action and miss your filing deadline, you’ll lose your eligibility to pursue financial compensation. Seek the assistance of a lawyer ASAP to get your suit submitted on time.
How an Attorney Can Help You Get a Fair Shoulder Injury Settlement
An attorney is your best friend if you’ve suffered a shoulder injury in a car crash. A skilled lawyer can investigate your accident and collect the necessary evidence to obtain the compensation you’re owed.
Once your attorney has gathered evidence and constructed a facts-based claim, they’ll take it to the relevant insurance company to negotiate a settlement. If you’ve ever been through the claims process before, you know that insurers are never immediately willing to offer a fair payment to the wrongfully injured.
However, with an attorney on your side, you’ll have an excellent chance of getting a fair shake from insurers. Your lawyer will use their negotiating skills to convince the insurance company’s representatives that you deserve a high-value settlement.
Find Out if You’re Entitled to a Car Accident Shoulder Injury Settlement
Since all car accident injuries are different, the average shoulder injury settlement might not reflect your case’s value. To find out how much you might receive from a claim, we recommend that you contact an attorney from our firm today.
A car accident lawyer from Morelli Law can meet with you via a free case evaluation. They’ll assess your situation, ask questions about your accident and injuries, and determine if you’re eligible to pursue compensation. If they agree to help you seek damages, they’ll refer to all of your accident-related losses and calculate the value of your car accident settlement.