Car Accident Lawyer Rochester, MN
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A car accident can range from a minor frustration to a major, even fatal collision, and no matter what, a motor vehicle accident can leave car accident victims struggling to pay medical bills as they suffer through physical and emotional trauma, their lost wages continue to mount, and the insurance company makes an initial settlement offer that barely covers their current costs.
When trying to recover damages after a car accident, the claims process can be frustrating at best, and often can be completely overwhelming. Insurance companies are focused on settling claims as quickly as possible and for as little as possible, with little consideration to a victim’s financial losses or the compensation they are rightfully owed.
Adjusters may resort to intimidation tactics to achieve this goal, and will then require the victim to sign a waiver that absolves the insurer of any future legal issues. Legal representation is one of the best ways to fight for the money you deserve in a car accident case, and 1-800-Injured makes finding a personal injury attorney in Rochester, MN simple.
Contact 1-800-Injured to Connect with Rochester Car Accident Lawyers
1-800-Injured is a Lawyer & Medical Directory that connects Minnesota residents with MN lawyers who can help them seek compensation for the damages they have suffered in a car crash. Victims will be able to connect with an experienced car accident lawyer to discuss the details surrounding their car wreck, get specific advice on how to move forward with their claim, and understand what they can expect working with an attorney who is fighting for their best interests.
The sooner you contact 1-800-Injured, the sooner you will be connected with an experienced personal injury attorney in Rochester, MN for a free consultation. Motor vehicle accidents are serious events in a victim’s life, as well as the lives of their loved ones, and getting dedicated support throughout the duration of your car accident claim is one of the best ways to recover the compensation you rightfully deserve.
Read more about car accidents below, and contact us right away to get support as you work towards a fair car accident settlement.
How Much Is Your Car Accident Claim Worth?
Many people are under the impression that the insurance company is there to help them get the money they deserve after a car accident caused by their policyholder, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Insurance companies are businesses, and as such are focused on maximizing profits by minimizing the amount paid out to claimants.
Under Minnesota law, a victim has a right to recover compensation for a wide range of impacts they suffer, collectively known as “compensatory damages.” These damages seek to compensate the victim for these losses and impacts, and are further subdivided into two distinct but equally important subcategories.
As you will see below, the two are closely linked, and once each category is determined, the total amount will be submitted to the insurer in a demand letter.
Once the insurance company receives the demand letter, they will issue a counter-offer, at which point your lawyer will begin a series of negotiations meant to close the gap between the two figures and ultimately secure you a settlement that fairly addresses your damages. If they are unable to, the next step may be to file a lawsuit with the Minnesota courts. Once in court, a judge and/or jury may decide the final total.
Economic damages are the basis for a personal injury claim, and apply to any impact that has a measurable dollar value. These damages include medical expenses, lost wages, the cost of goods or services a victim must pay for to help with tasks they could formerly do on their own, as well as the costs to repair or replace damaged property.
Economic damages will also apply towards future losses, and Minnesota attorneys have years of experience projecting these costs and losses for their clients, and will be prepared to back their calculations up with concrete evidence for your claim.
Economic damages are repaid 1 to 1, meaning that there are no additional damages in this category beyond what you can prove with receipts, invoices, income statements, or bills.
Non-economic damages apply to damages that do not have dollar values and are not objectively measurable. The most common non-economic damages include pain and suffering, trauma, and a decreased quality of life, although there are many others.
In accidents that cause a death, surviving family members can sue for things like loss of companionship and support, as well as other “intangible” impacts of such a tragedy.
Applying a dollar value to a collection of non-economic damages is very difficult, and insurance adjusters will avoid addressing them at all if possible. When victim’s are handling their own insurance claim, they often find that any mentions of their emotional injuries and associated damages will quickly be shot down by the insurance adjuster.
Insurers know how overwhelming this entire area of damages can be for a victim, and leverage this complexity to their advantage.
An experienced attorney will have a number of tools at their disposal for calculating non-economic damages, and will choose the calculation method that will result in the most amount of money for their client.
Seeking Compensatory Damages
Once your lawyer has determined the total amount of compensatory damages you have suffered, they will move forward with negotiations in the hopes of receiving a fair settlement without needing to take your case to court.
In certain cases a lawyer may believe that their client is a good candidate for punitive damages — which are awarded by a judge or jury to punish an at-fault party for egregious or reprehensible behavior — at which time they may decide to move straight to a lawsuit.
While speaking to an attorney during your initial consultation, you can ask about cases similar to your own in order to get a sense for how they have handled past clients, but remember that no two accidents are alike and your outcome will be different.
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