Q: This past Jan. 08 My daughter and I were in a car accident. It was the other persons fault, and Thank gosh, she had Ins. also she owned her car thru a trust- fund of some kind, (not sure), it was something like that. I broke my femur bone in my leg and had to have surgery to insert a metal rod, and 5 screws. I am only 28. My daughter who is 9yr. had abraisons to her face and a scratched corneal on the eye. Both her eyes were swelled shut. Because of the airbag. We were both taken in the ambulance. There were NO injuries done to the other lady. It took me months of physical therapy to recover from this. My last visit there was in late May- early June. Meanwhile I lost my job while I was out. So I just barely went back to work at a new job, in Aug. I just now (today) got all my Dr. bills together along with my daughters and mailed them off to my Lawyers. SO MY QUESTIONS ARE: About how much do you think I will get back? and About how long will it take to close on this case?
A: First off, did your employer carry insurance on you employees? and if he did, did the company's insurance pay your doctor's bills? When I had my accident, when the case was settled, monies paid out through your company will have to be reembursed! Or did your auto insurance take care of that? Also, did your company pay you any sick benefits!? Lots of questions EH! But necessary! Add up everything any insurance company paid out for the accident, then subtract anything that must be paid back, then get down to the pain and suffering, including the loss of your job! You are filling for two people - you and your daughter! And who was taking care of your daughter when you were unable to give her the attention she needed! Don't forget your car was probably totaled, and you had to get another one!! I don't know how much your lawyers % is, but double that when you do your figuring! I have heard people suing somebody else for half a million dollars just for a whip-lash! Go high as you can, you can always drop it down a bit! Also, remember, even if you are back at work, injuries which you sustained can come back and haunt you! The judge I saw, made the insurance carry me for the next five years, just in case something went wrong with the surgery!! How does 2 million dollars sound? You will probably only see half of that after the insurnace company gets it's lot!