What Is the Average Settlement for T-Bone Car Accident?
After a T-bone car accident, you will find that there is no exact average settlement amount for your accident-related damages. The facts surrounding your accident, the seriousness of your injuries, your financial losses, and the stage of your case all can affect the average settlement for a T-bone car accident.
Rather than risk undervaluing your damages or accepting a lowball settlement, you could seek help from our firm. We can identify the potentially recoverable damages you have suffered and build a case against the liable party.
How Medical Bills Affect the Settlement Amount in a Car Accident Claim
Depending on the nature of your injuries, your medical bills from a T-bone car accident can be substantial. In most cases, the more severe your injuries are, the more medical bills you have.
These bills can range from the costs of receiving emergency medical care at the accident scene to weeks of rehabilitation sessions. If inpatient hospitalization is necessary to treat your injuries, your medical bills can quickly skyrocket.
A significant portion of most car accident settlements is payment for necessary medical treatment. This part of your settlement can include past and current medical expenses, as well as future medical costs if you need continued medical care.
How the Permanency of Your Injuries Factors into the Settlement Amount
Another major component of a settlement is compensation for your permanent losses and impairments. When losses are heightened due to permanent injuries, the settlement award may reflect additional damages.
For example, if you suffered a traumatic brain injury in the accident, you may experience permanent effects that significantly impact your ability to:
- Work, whether in your current job or another
- Enjoy your hobbies and interests
- Perform daily activities, like childcare and household chores
- Live independently
Severe injuries that lead to permanent disabilities also tend to cause increased pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. Thus, these other forms of damages could help make up a settlement award, as well.
How Financial Losses Factor Into a Settlement
Settlement awards for T-bone car accidents will also likely contain compensation for employment-related financial losses. If you are unable to work due to your injuries for a temporary period, you may be eligible to recover damages for your lost income.
If your injuries have lasting impacts, you may be permanently unable to return to your former job. If so, our team will account for the loss of future income that you had anticipated when seeking your settlement.
How Evidence Impacts the Settlement Amount in a T-Done Accident Claim
To hold other parties responsible for your injuries, you have to prove that they acted negligently. Negligence is a legal concept that means their actions fell below the reasonable standard of care, causing others harm. In the case of a car accident, this may translate to a driver who violates a traffic law, which then causes the collision.
A common example of negligence in a T-bone car accident case is a driver who failed to stop at a stop sign. Clear evidence showing that the driver was negligent may lead to a quicker and higher settlement offer in some cases. Examples of such evidence include:
- Eyewitness accounts
- The police report, which provides crucial details regarding the accident scene
- Traffic camera recordings and other footage of the collision
However, conflicting witness reports could make liability more challenging to prove. This could result in a lower settlement amount, as the insurance company for the driver may be more willing to risk going to trial. When we represent you, our team will work hard to build a case based on solid evidence.
How Timing Might Affect a Settlement Award
You only have a limited time under Louisiana law to file a case in court after a T-bone accident. CC 3493.1 provides that injury victims must file their lawsuits within two years of the collision.
Our team could use your ability to file a lawsuit as leverage when negotiating with the insurer. As the two-year filing deadline draws near, the insurance company may be increasingly more willing to extend a fair settlement offer to you, as defending their policyholder in court incurs legal fees. However, letting this deadline pass could have the opposite effect.
The same logic applies in a fatal T-bone accident. Under CC Art. 2315.2, surviving family members have two years from the date of their loved one’s death to file suit for the loss. Once the case goes to court, insurance companies may work harder to settle the case appropriately. However, this generally depends on the strength of your case.
Count on Us to Calculate Your Case Value and Represent Your Interests
If you want to know more about the average settlement for a T-bone car accident, call us today at (337) 777-7777. At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we are here to help. Free consultations are available to all potential clients.
