If you have been injured by another driver, you may be entitled to monetary damages. However, you might not know what to ask for. Compensation comes from several categories so find out more below.

What Are You Owed?

The driver that causes an accident is liable for the expenses of both drivers. In most cases, both drivers are insured and work through their insurers to recover their damages. However, not all types of damage are routinely paid after an accident.

There is what you should be paid and then there is what the other insurer offers you. Those things may not be the same, however. Your insurer may pay for your vehicle to be fixed or replaced, but then they will take action to be reimbursed for their expenses from the other driver's insurer.

Damage and What Is Owed

Damages refer to more than your vehicle or your physical injuries. It can also refer to every way you have been impacted because of the accident. Commonly, car accident victims are entitled to be paid for these forms of damage:

• The costs of all medical treatment.
• The costs of any future medical treatment.
• The repair or replacement of the victim's vehicle.
• A rental car to use while the vehicle situation is being worked out.
• Any time/income missed from work should be reimbursed.
• In cases of severe injuries, the damages may include career losses if the victim is unable to return to their chosen career.
• Pain and suffering for the way the accident has made the victim feel since the accident occurred and going forward until the medical treatment is complete.

Seek Help from a Lawyer

Unfortunately, being paid what you deserve is not easy. The at-fault driver's insurer may be reluctant to pay victims what they deserve. They may pay some of the above, but they are not likely to pay all of it without more pressure being applied.

That is what a personal injury lawyer does for accident victims. They apply pressure on the other driver's insurer by contacting them and letting them know that the victim has professional legal representation. That alone will send a signal to the other side that they could be facing a judge and jury in the future. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, most insurers are eager to avoid court.

Your lawyer will send the other side a demand letter listing the damages you incurred and asking for a sum of money to cover those damages. You won't need to deal with the insurer for the other driver; your lawyer will handle the negotiations. Speak to an auto accident attorney to learn more. 

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