If you’re involved in a car accident, the personal cost of that accident can grow quickly once your medical bills begin to arrive. Those costs will only continue to increase as you miss work due to your injuries, not to mention the value of any damaged property and the physical and emotional pain you endure every day.
A claim for damages after a car accident can help you recoup these losses. To effectively pursue the maximum amount possible, you need the services of an experienced, aggressive Cheyenne car accident lawyer.
The Olson Personal Injury Lawyers is ready to build a claim for damages to seek compensation that accurately accounts for all your losses in an accident. For your free initial consultation, call our office today or visit our contact page.
Types of Compensation You May Claim After a Car Accident
Your losses after a car accident aren’t limited to your medical expenses and your lost wages. That’s why Wyoming law allows accident victims to pursue compensation for a wide range of potential damages.
Here are some of the types of compensation you could claim after a car accident in Cheyenne:
- Past medical bills
- Future medical care
- Lost wages
- Reduced capacity to work and earn in the future
- Cost of adapting your home to accommodate disabilities
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
Car Wreck Claims Settlements and Fault
Most car accident claims, including in Wyoming, are settled out of court in negotiations among the involved drivers, their attorneys, and their insurance companies. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, more than one driver may be at fault, which can make the claims process more complicated.
Claims for damages after a car accident nearly always involve some element of negligence. To prove your claim, you’ll have to show that another driver’s actions caused the crash and led to your injuries. You’ll need evidence like police reports, photos, eyewitness testimony, medical records, and other documents to substantiate your claim.
Wyoming uses the legal doctrine of comparative negligence when it comes to car accident claims. In car accident claims involving comparative negligence, damages are paid out according to the percentage of fault of each driver in the crash. Any damages they receive will be reduced according to their percentage of fault.
Factors That Affect Car Accident Claims Settlements
All car accidents are different, and that means every potential claim settlement will depend on the unique factors in each case.
Some of the factors that can influence the value of a car accident claim settlement include:
- The amount of money you spent to treat your accident-related injuries
- The value of the wages you lost as you were being treated after the accident
- The value of any lost or damaged property due to the accident
- How greatly your injuries have impacted your day-to-day life
- The percentage of fault for each driver involved in the crash
- The amount of insurance coverage available
What to Avoid to Ensure Maximum Case Value in Cheyenne
If you want the maximum potential claim value after being involved in a car accident, there are certain steps to take to protect the value of your claim. There are also steps to explicitly avoid. Some things to avoid after a car accident include:
- Not 911 right after an accident – Calling emergency services can provide timely care to severely injured people after an accident. Furthermore, the accident report from the responding police agency is often a crucial piece of evidence in determining who was at fault for the accident. Keep in mind, though, that the police do not have the final say about civil liability for a crash.
- Not seeking medical care right away – Even if you think you feel OK after an accident, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. You may be disoriented or in shock, and not all car accident injuries are immediately obvious. This includes injuries like whiplash, head trauma, and internal bleeding. Delaying treatment could cause serious harm to your health and may cause the other driver’s insurer to question the seriousness of your injuries.
- Saying anything that could be construed as admitting guilt or fault – Be very careful about anything you say to an outside party regarding your accident, especially when talking to law enforcement or the other driver’s insurance company. Just saying “I’m sorry” could be twisted into an admission of guilt.
- Making posts on social media about the accident – Even if you think your social media posts are private, insurance companies have ways to find your profiles and use your words against you. Your best bet is to not mention the accident at all on social media. Also, avoid posting pictures or statements that could make it appear that you weren’t badly hurt. The best practice is to avoid social media completely.
- Not hiring a car accident attorney – A lawyer with experience handling car accident claims will know what you should and should not do to maximize the potential value of your claim. We recommend all accident victims speak to an attorney as soon as possible if they’re considering filing a claim against the other driver. It costs you nothing to have us review your situation and layout your best legal options for seeking compensation.
How Can the Olson Personal Injury Lawyers Help Me Maximize My Car Accident Claim?
A car accident attorney’s knowledge and skills are vital if you want to maximize the value of your claim. An Cheyenne personal injury attorney can gather evidence to prove your claim, handle any communication between you and the other driver’s lawyer or insurance company to make sure you don’t say anything that could hurt your claim, file the necessary paperwork, and negotiate for the maximum possible settlement on your behalf.
At the Olson Personal Injury Lawyers, we treat our clients like family, and we’re committed to helping you pursue the compensation you deserve after an accident in Cheyenne. Get your initial consultation today by calling us or visiting our contact page.
