YOUR LOST WAGES AND YOUR LOST TIME
The overriding principle in securing settlements for accident victims is that they have the right to be made whole again -- to be in the same condition after the accident as they were before the accident occurred.
As a consequence of events stemming from the accident, you may be forced to miss work, or otherwise have your livelihood interrupted. Your earning capacity may also be impaired for an indefinite period of time. If you became disabled as a result of the accident, you may also have a right to collect from disability insurance.
Whatever time or costs you must spend in the process of making yourself whole and well again (travel time, transportation costs, affiliated repair expenditures, time spent at the doctor's or in therapy, etc.) are also compensable.
As if the trauma and inconvenience of the accident were not enough, the insurance company may require reams of documentation (to the point of harassment) to have you substantiate your claims of lost wages, time spent in therapy and expenditures related to the maintenance of your well-being.
If you have any questions concerning your rights in this area, please contact the office of Bayda Ludwar Law Firm at (403) 670-0055 for a free, no-obligation consultation.
YOUR CLAIM FOR PAIN AND SUFFERING
A proper and equitable settlement for damages and injuries sustained in an automobile accident includes many factors, which when added together, will not only compensate you for any physical loss, but also for the mental stress of the entire incident.
The insurance company, liable for the payment of damages which you have suffered, is responsible to pay you for:
- all property damage -- including repair to your automobile
- recovery of lost wages
- transportation costs to the doctor
- time spent in therapy and time spent travelling to the doctor or clinic
- all medical bills
- any physical or mental disabilities
- emotional distress
- pain and suffering from the trauma, intrusion, inconvenience and anguish of the accident.
This elusive and sometimes hard to define factor can sometimes result in a substantial amount of money for accident victims. Depending on individual circumstances, good documentation, and how well an experienced and skilful negotiator handles the case, reimbursement for pain and suffering can make the difference between a poor settlement and a good settlement.
After repair bills, doctor bills, and miscellaneous costs have been paid, your lawyer deducts their fee, and the remainder is given to you as a cash settlement. Since this money reimburses you for losses suffered by the accident, it is non-taxable. And it does indeed help to insure that your condition is made the same as it was before the accident occurred.
A somewhat typical case might allocate 1/3 of the settlement toward the lawyer, and 2/3 in the client's pocket. By maximizing the claim for pain and suffering, the insurance company, in effect, pays for your lawyer to represent you.
Bayda Ludwar Law Firm has a great deal of credibility among the "insurance adjusting" community. Their skill and experience have helped their clients win exceedingly fair and equitable settlements -- in most cases without having to go to trial. They will have pictures taken of your injuries, and work with you in keeping a daily log of your condition.
If you need advice or consultation on your claim for pain and suffering, please call Bayda Ludwar Law Firm at (403) 670-0055.