Driving a car on a daily basis is a common task for millions of people across the country. Most of the time, people are able to get to and from work, school or another destination without much issue. However, even when people are driving safely, accidents do happen from time to time. If you are involved in any type of accident, there are bound to be costs involved. If you are not at fault, it is natural to want to have the liable party reimburse you for all necessary expenses. In some situations, this may require that you file a car accident claim with the other party. There are a variety of expenses that you should ensure that are included when a claim is filed.
Property Damage to Vehicle
One of the most common expenses that will be covered and included in a car accident case and claim is damage to your vehicle. After an accident, it is always a good idea to bring your car to a local auto body shop and mechanic. In some cases, there could be issues with your vehicle that are not yet readily apparent that were caused in an accident. The mechanic will be able to complete a full inspection and assessment of your vehicle to determine the scope of the damage. They will then give an estimate for repairs. Based on the scope of the damage, you will want to include the exact repair costs or even the total market value of your vehicle if it is deemed too damaged to repair.
Medical Bills
Any auto accident can be a scary situation. One of the largest challenges that can come is if you are someone in your vehicle is seriously hurt. One of the expenses car accident victims can be paid, which should always be included in your case and claim are your medical bills. Following an accident, it is always a good idea to see a doctor even if you do not notice any pain or discomfort. Based on your evaluation, it could be determined that you have injuries that will require surgery or therapy. All associated costs with the accident should be included in your car accident case claim. At times, due to the unknown expenses, you may need to make an estimate for what the total future costs will be.
Loss of Income or Ability to Work
If you suffer from a bad car accident injury, there is a chance that it could affect your ability to go back to your prior field of employment. When this occurs, you are potentially missing out on the ability to earn an income entirely. These lost wages can add up considerably while you may also have increased costs associated with your recovery from the injury. With the guidance of an attorney, it would be a good idea to determine what the trust cost of this is. The lost income should then be included in your case and claim.
Pain and Suffering
While some costs that are incurred following a car accident are easier to determine, some can be much harder to estimate. One type of expense that should be included in your case, but can be very hard to quantify is your cost associated with pain and suffering. Following a car accident, you may be left with a lot of physical and emotional pain. This could even make it hard for you to enjoy the activities that you once loved to participate in. Measuring the cost that comes with a weakened quality of life can be very hard. However, including it and detailing the situation could be a good option.
Ancillary Costs
Along with a car accident, there are other ancillary costs that you may incur as a result of the accident and not having access to a car. Some of these costs can include having to pay for a rental car, having ot use a rideshare service or other related costs. While these may seem small compared to the other costs, they do add up and including them in your case is a good idea.
