When a person is injured in a car accident, they may face a long and expensive recovery. They may also lose their job because they can no longer perform the work. If a negligent person caused the accident, then the injured person can seek financial compensation for their medical treatment and lost income. It doesn’t matter whether the person intended to cause the accident. Everyday actions, such as eating a sandwich or fiddling with the radio, are negligent if they cause the driver to become distracted and take their eyes off of the road. The injured person should hire a Car Accident Attorney in Rapid City SD, to review the case and file a claim for damages.
The lawyer will file the claim with the negligent driver’s insurance company. He will document the injured person’s injuries and the cost of treatments. He will also request compensation for any lost income. These calculations are based on actual experience for the time period directly after the accident. However, some injuries can take years to heal, and some leave lifelong disabilities. It is more difficult to estimate the cost of treatment in future years. The same problem arises when attempting to determine a person’s future income. For younger people, these estimates may have to consider 60 years of medical treatment and future earnings. A Car Accident Attorney in Rapid City SD will work with actuarial experts to estimate realistic costs and income.
It is expected that the insurance company will have their own experts that will calculate much lower health care costs and income potential. This type of negotiation can be intimidating and difficult for an injured person dealing with a traumatic brain or spinal cord injury. All of the negotiations will take place between the lawyer and the insurance company. This allows the injured person to focus on their recovery. However, the injured person will always be the party to accept or reject an offer.
If the insurance company fails to offer a fair financial settlement, then attorney may recommend the injured person take them to court. An impartial jury will be able to determine the amount of fair compensation for their injuries. Most injured people and insurance companies do agree to settlements without going to court.
