How Much Should I Ask For In A Car Accident Settlement?

On This Page

1. Identifying Your Accident-Related Damages
2. Calculating a Fair Settlement Value
3. Let a Pittsburgh Car Accident Attorney From Berger and Green Help With Your Case

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

February 02, 2024

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

Before you can know how much you are able to ask for in a car accident settlement, it is imperative to have a strong case showing the approximate value of your accident-related losses and expenses. How much you should ask for depends on the types of damages you can recover and the value of those damages.

We will review your case for free and explain your rights, including helping you determine if you are eligible to pursue noneconomic damages. This may be possible if you opted for full tort coverage, suffered serious, permanent injuries, or met any of the exceptions to limited tort coverage under PA Code  Title 75 (Chapter 17).

Identifying Your Accident-Related Damages

One of the biggest mistakes made by car accident victims who handle their insurance claims on their own is that they fail to account for their full range of damages. This results in a low payout, sometimes so low that these victims have to pay some costs or future care out of their own pockets.

When you begin the process of identifying your accident-related damages and collecting documentation of them, make sure you include all possible recoverable damages. This may include:

• Past and future medical care and related expenses
• Ongoing care costs such as in-home nursing care or facility placement
• Lost wages and benefits from time missed at work, and diminished earning capacity if you cannot work your previous job
• Car repair or replacement
• Repair or replacement of other damaged personal property, such as your glasses or phone

It is also imperative that you do not overlook the out-of-pocket expenses that occurred as a result of your accident. This could include almost any expense you would not have incurred if the accident had not happened. Some examples include:

• Car rental costs
• Parking at the hospital or your doctor’s office
• Uber or Lyft fares to pick up a rental car or go to appointments
• Renting a hospital bed, wheelchair, or other medical equipment
• Building a ramp or renovating your home for wheelchair accessibility

Calculating a Fair Settlement Value

Of course, calculating a fair settlement value requires more than just collecting documentation of your expenses, and the extra legwork required often causes problems for individuals trying to put a fair value on their case without help from an attorney.

Your fair settlement value is the sum of all your accident-related expenses and losses, but some of these are very difficult to calculate. For example, we may work with medical experts to help us understand your prognosis and possible future treatment needs and to put a price on them.

Then you have to calculate the value of noneconomic damages, if these damages are available to you. At Berger and Green, we handle this type of thing regularly and understand how to put a fair price on pain and suffering damages. This is one reason we encourage all car accident victims in the Pittsburgh area to reach out to us before agreeing to a settlement with the insurer.

Let a Pittsburgh Car Accident Attorney From Berger and Green Help With Your Case

We can help you determine the fair settlement value for your car accident claim and pursue this payout on your behalf. This allows you to focus on healing while we take care of the rest. For more than 40 years, founding partner Laurence B. Green has been fighting to protect the rights of Pennsylvania accident victims.

If you suffered injuries in any type of motor vehicle accident in Pittsburgh or surrounding areas, we are here to help. Call Berger and Green today at (412) 661-1400 for a free case review.