What Is The Average Settlement For A Washington DC Car Accident?

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If you have recently been injured in a car accident, you may be wondering what your case is “worth.” As experienced lawyers such as those who practice at Cohen & Cohen can confirm, it is virtually impossible to accurately estimate the true worth of a car accident case until an attorney has been permitted to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the crash and objectively evaluate their findings.

Why is it so difficult to calculate the worth of an individual’s car crash case? It is rarely easy to know, at a glance, who is at fault for the harm that has been caused, to what degree they are at fault, and how costly an accident injury victim’s harm will prove to be.

Fault and Causation

Before the value of a car accident case can be valued – and a fair personal injury damages award and/or insurance settlement pursued – the cause(s) of the crash must be accurately determined. Once they have been identified, an attorney can assess which party/parties may be held legally and financially liable for any harm that was caused. These investigations and assessments take time and skill.

Costs and Partial Liability Concerns

Once causation and fault have been determined, an attorney can then start assessing the value of a victim’s case. How expensive are their medical bills? Will they require future medical treatment? Have they lost wages due to their crash? How extensive was the property damage? Questions like these help an attorney understand how costly a crash has been for an injury victim.

Once the costs of a victim’s harm have been assessed, the matter of whether the victim was at all to blame for their injurious circumstances must be addressed. Washington D.C. holds victims to a contributory negligence standard. As a result, if a victim was partially to blame for their circumstances, they may be entitled to a significant insurance settlement but they are unlikely to be awarded personal injury damages for their harm.

Average and Extraordinary Settlements

There are a number of research tools that attorneys use to estimate the average personal injury damage awards and settlement awards handed down in different cases. One of the tools that many personal injury attorneys use when approaching the valuation process involves researching what similarly situated accident victims have been awarded in their cases. For example, the current median compensatory damages award handed down to auto accident victims in Washington D.C. is $9,000.

This figure alone won’t tell a lawyer much. It cannot be stressed enough that every case is different and that the valuation of your case will depend upon a variety of factors. However, this figure does give lawyers a frame of reference that roughly half of victims receive an award that is lower than this figure and roughly half of all victims receive an award that is higher than this figure. The value of your case could be below this median figure, approximate it or exceed it significantly. By speaking with a lawyer, you’ll know one way or the other.

If you have been in a car accident, contact a Washington, DC car accident lawyer as soon as you can.

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"The legal team at Cohen & Cohen did a great job I really appreciate the hard work on gating my compensation in a fair amount of time. Special thanks to Kris for a wonderful job."
Jose Rivera
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"I had a great experience with the team at Cohen & Cohen. From my intake attorney, Adam, to the paralegal, Bryan, who worked with me regularly for months to document and prepare my case, to Jill, the attorney who secured my settlement, I feel fortunate to have had their representation and expertise on my side."
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Cohen & Cohen has an  impeccable Client Satisfaction Rating with hundreds of
5 STAR Reviews. We are among the best-rated firms in the areas we serve.

L Proctor
August 30, 2022.
My experience with Cohen &Cohen was beyond my expectations. Jill did an amazing job with negotiating on my behalf and got me way more money than I anticipated. Thank you for having my back.
Ebony Stoutmiles
June 23, 2022.
To say that I am happy with the outcome of my case is the understatement of the century! Jill Stanley is a BEAST at what she does. That is the only way to explain it. She takes no prisoners. She and her team are very skilled and knowledgeable. I am so happy I trusted them to do their job and rolled with Jill's suggestions. I would choose Jill again 100 times. She settled my case for more than I imagined I would receive. I was literally in tears. It is the best feeling to know my pain isn't for naught. Wayne Cohen and Kristopher Yorke were nothing short of amazing. They have the patience of saints. I'm 100% certain that I got on their last nerves with my frustration and tears at every other call I had with them. Being in pain and wanting to just be able to heal was all I could focus on, but they helped me realize that I also had to focus on the bigger picture (the case) so I could put this piece behind me. As a high-strung individual with anxiety, it was hard for me to not worry and let them do their jobs, but they reassured me all of the time that they had this. To be injured before the start of the pandemic and have to receive regular, weekly treatment while others are able to stay home is anxiety inducing. I was in pain, I was anxious, and I was just hoping it all worked out. It more than worked out. I hope Jill, Siri, and Kris know how much their hard work and "hanging in there" meant to me. I am eternally grateful. I can't recommend you all enough. If you choose this law firm, you won't be sorry!
Beloved Temple
June 3, 2022.
I was very pleased with the handling of my case and settlement with Cohen& Cohen. I appreciate them, would highly recommend them.
willie howell
May 25, 2022.
COHEN & COHEN ARE THE BEST I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END CAR CRASH AND 2 YEARS LATER I HAVE RECEIVED MY SETTLEMENT I AM VERY EXCITED TO SAY BRYAN!!! IS THE MAN HE INSURED THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF ME AND THEY DID 100% ANY QUESTIONS I ASKED THEY WERE ANSWERED. Jill and SIRI WAS ALSO REMARKABLE AND SHOWED THEY REALLY CARED I RECOMMEND COHEN &COHEN TO ANYONE THEY ALSO MADE SURE I GOT MORE THAN EXPECTED WHICH WAS AMAZING I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS THANK U💯
Jose Rivera
May 25, 2022.
The legal team at cohen & cohen did a great job I really appreciate the hard work on gating my compensation in a fair amount of time. Special thanks to Kris for a wonderful job
Lea Harvey
May 25, 2022.
I had a great experience with the team at Cohen & Cohen. From my intake attorney, Adam, to the paralegal, Bryan, who worked with me regularly for months to document and prepare my case, to Jill, the attorney who secured my settlement, I feel fortunate to have had their representation and expertise on my side.
Cameron Galloway (HustleDaGod)
May 19, 2022.
Kris was phenomenal. Spectacular communication & knowledge in regards to my case. Would definitely return if I needed more legal services. 100% definitely recommend.