A car accident can be very costly and extremely painful when it results in injuries. Damages arising from a car accident include those related to injuries and property damage.
The National Safety Council (NSC) says the average costs of a car accident in 2020 was:
- Per fatality: $1.75 million.
- Per evident injury: $29,200.
- Per possible injury: $23,900.
- When no injury is observed: $12,800.
- Property damage per vehicle: $4,700.
These costs included wage and productivity loss, medical costs, administrative expenses, property damage, and employers’ uninsured expenses.
With the average costs of injuries and property damage running so high, it is important to document your losses. If a civil suit is needed, documentation can help support your personal injury claim.
Medical Treatment Expenses
Whenever you are in an accident, obtaining medical care always is your first priority. A trip to the emergency room and follow-up care can document the extent and costs of treating your injuries. Treating injuries includes the cost of physical therapy and any mental health therapy that you might undergo due to the accident. The medical documentation should include the diagnosis of your injuries and any surgery, diagnostic imaging, and prescription medication help show evidence of the extent of injuries that you suffered.
Your injury-related damages might include lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages that you might incur due to the accident. You can document your pain and suffering and how your injuries affect your daily activities by maintaining a journal. An experienced car accident lawyer can help you fully document the damages.
Photographic Evidence and Repair Estimates
Photographs of car damage are useful for showing the extent of damage to your vehicle and any belongings that might have been inside it during the accident. You can have one or more auto body repair shops inspect your vehicle and write a repair estimate. You could have a mechanic do the same.
If the repair costs exceed the vehicle’s fair market value, your insurer might declare it totaled and offer you a settlement. You might be able to make that settlement amount higher by detailing any modifications that you made to the vehicle and providing receipts for aftermarket parts of custom work done.
Documenting Damage to Personal Property
Your personal property also counts when damaged during a car accident. A laptop, cellphone, or maybe a costly watch are examples of personal belongings that a car accident might damage. You can document the personal items that the accident damaged and provide copies of any receipts that you might have kept when you bought the items. Photographic evidence of the damaged items inside the vehicle could show they were in your vehicle during the accident.
You also could document the current value of the damaged items to obtain a replacement cost. The current value could help with reaching an accurate settlement.
Delaware Car Accident Lawyers at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC Will Help You File Your Claim for Damages
If you need legal assistance after a collision, one of our Delaware car accident lawyers at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC can help. We will calculate your losses. Call us at 302-888-1221 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. We are located in Wilmington, Delaware, and we serve clients in Dover, Newark, and Middletown.