Data from surveys and studies indicate that the average car accident settlement amounts range from $20,000 to $30,000 for moderate injury claims. However, average car accident settlement data shouldn’t be interpreted as the standard payout for a case, as every case is unique. Actual settlement amounts vary widely in Naperville, depending on the extent of your injuries and resulting damages, impact on quality of life, each involved party’s degree of fault, the applicable insurance policies, and even the negotiation skills of your car accident attorney.
Call Chute, O’Malley, Knobloch, and Turcy, LLC at 312-775-0042 for a free evaluation of your case in Naperville.
How Much Can You Expect From a Car Accident Settlement in Naperville?
Car accident settlements help crash victims alleviate some stress and financial burdens they’ve experienced and get their lives back on track. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that how car accident settlements are calculated and what settlement amount to expect are among the first things people want to know when dealing with the aftermath of accidents.
You can get a sense of how much to expect from a typical car accident settlement from the Illinois Department of Transportation’s statistics on the costs associated with car accidents. According to the latest crash yearly report:
- There were 298,347 motor vehicle crashes in Illinois. Among these crashes, 59,795 were injury crashes, while 1,147 were fatal. The total estimated cost for these crashes was $8 billion.
- Each fatality cost an estimated $1,920,290.
- Incapacitating injuries or A-injuries, such as severe lacerations, abdominal injuries, chest injuries, broken limbs or skulls, and other disabling injuries, cost an estimated $167,405 on average.
- Injuries that were non-incapacitating but evident at the crash scene (also referred to as B-injuries), such as minor lacerations, abrasions, bruises, and lumps on the head, had an estimated cost of $43,200 on average.
- C-injuries (injuries that aren’t fatal, A, or B injuries), which include injuries that may not have been immediately noticeable, nausea, complaints of pain, hysteria, limping, and momentary unconsciousness, were estimated to cost $25,920.
- A property damage accident cost approximately $6,160.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average auto liability claim was $26,501 for bodily injury and $6,551 for property damage in 2022. One survey conducted from 2015 to 2020 found the average settlement awarded to accident victims to be $23,900. While the average car accident settlement for moderate injuries may hover around these figures, settlement amounts for minor accidents may be much lower, whereas major car crashes may result in higher compensation.
Settlements for accidents involving no injuries or only minor ones often range from $3,000 to $15,000. These cover medical expenses, property damage, any lost wages, and minor pain and suffering. Victims with minor injuries typically recover fully within weeks. Even accidents where you didn’t sustain physical injuries may still entitle you to compensation. Settlements in such cases cover costs of precautionary medical evaluations, vehicle repairs, and lost wages if you’ve had to miss work. Car accident lawyers help ensure accident victims don’t overlook any damages they may be eligible for when making a claim.
Settlements for car accident cases involving severe injuries can range from $75,000 to hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars. The substantial car accident compensation in these cases reflects the extensive medical treatment needed and the long-term impact of the injuries on the victims’ lives. Settlements in accident cases that result in a fatality are usually significantly higher, as they also account for funeral and burial expenses and the trauma and losses suffered by surviving family members.
The figures above act only as a rough guideline. It’s impossible to predict your car accident settlement, even with an online settlement amount calculator, without establishing the details about your crash and injuries. You can get a better idea of how to win a car accident case in Naperville and the compensation to expect for your case by understanding the factors that influence settlement amounts and consulting a car accident attorney.
Factors That Affect Car Accident Settlement Amounts
Factors in your case that can boost or lower your settlement value include:
Severity of Injuries and the Resulting Damages Involved
Car accident settlement amounts are influenced by the type and extent of the injuries suffered and the resulting damages. The more serious and long-lasting your injuries, the higher the settlement. That’s because severe injuries that have long-term effects will require extensive treatment, leading to higher medical expenses, more time away from work leading to more lost income, and greater pain and suffering damages. The higher economic and non-economic damages incurred result in higher settlements.
Extent of Property Damage
Settlements also compensate crash victims for losses related to property damage. The degree of damage to your car and personal property will affect your settlement amount. Minor crashes often cause minimal property damage and result in lower settlements. Serious accidents, like high-speed collisions, usually have a greater impact that causes more damage to the vehicles involved and the surrounding property, leading to larger settlement amounts.
Impact on the Quality of Your Life
Insurance companies and courts assess how an accident and injury affects a victim’s ability to work, participate in hobbies and daily activities, maintain relationships, and enjoy life. The more significant the effects, the higher your non-economic damages will be in a settlement.
Fault and Liability
Fault and liability are critical factors in determining settlement amounts in Illinois car accident cases. Illinois follows a fault-based system, meaning the at-fault party will be responsible for paying for damages arising from the accident. In some accidents, it’s easy to prove the party that’s clearly at fault. In such cases, the party’s insurance company can accept responsibility and offer a reasonable settlement amount to avoid a lawsuit.
In some cases, fault may be shared. The degree of fault allocated to each involved party can affect your settlement. Illinois follows a modified comparative rule. Under the rule, you can claim compensation even if you’re partially responsible for the crash, as long as your percentage of fault is less than 50%. Your fault percentage will reduce your total compensation.
Insurance Coverage
The insurance coverage available, including the at-fault driver’s liability coverage and your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, can influence settlement amounts. Insurers compensate accident victims up to the insurance policy limits.
When the other driver who caused your accident is insured, the settlement amount you can recover may be limited by the driver’s coverage limits. Naperville car accident attorneys help investigate other sources of compensation if you need to recover costs beyond the policy limits. For example, you could collect excess damages under the driver’s umbrella policy, your own underinsured motorist policy, or file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver. A commercial policy may apply if the at-fault party was driving a company vehicle. Commercial liability limits are typically higher than those of individuals.
If the at-fault driver is uninsured, you may have to directly pursue a lawsuit against the driver or make a claim against your uninsured motorist coverage.
Punitive Damages
A court may award punitive damages in Illinois if the at-fault driver’s actions are particularly reckless, malicious, or egregious. These damages are meant to punish the defendant and deter others from similar conduct in the future. If there’s the possibility of punitive damages being awarded due to the other party’s conduct if your case goes to trial, that could be factored into your settlement, which could increase the final settlement amount.
How a Car Accident Lawyer Helps
Consulting a car accident lawyer is essential to evaluating your claim accurately. A Naperville lawyer will help you identify all the damages you’re entitled to under Illinois law and determine how much your case is worth based on your losses and circumstances. Car accident lawyers may also work with medical professionals and economic experts to value your damages more precisely. Your lawyer will identify all sources of compensation and pursue them, helping maximize your recovery.
Securing a settlement that reflects the true value of your damages isn’t straightforward. It requires strong negotiation skills. Insurance companies have tricks and tactics they use to devalue injuries and claims and minimize payouts. That’s why it’s crucial to hire a car accident lawyer in Naperville.
An experienced lawyer will know how to combat these tactics and protect you from being pressured into accepting an unfair settlement. Your lawyer will carefully weigh the settlement offers you receive and advise whether they are in your best interests. He or she will obtain evidence that supports your case and negotiate assertively with the insurance company to reach a fair settlement.
Generally, having legal representation leads to higher car accident settlement amounts.
The car accident attorneys at Chute, O’Malley, Knobloch, and Turcy, LLC have years of experience taking on insurance companies and securing fair settlements for crash victims. Contact us today for a free case evaluation in Naperville.
