Medical care is expensive, especially for people who suffer serious injuries in a car crash. Severe car accident injuries can include spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, multiple broken bones, extensive burns, or internal bleeding and organ damage. Treatment for these types of injuries often involves emergency surgery, long hospital stays, and months or even years of rehabilitation. When someone is hurt in a car accident, the at-fault driver is legally responsible for paying the victim’s medical bills.
If you were seriously injured in a collision, you may be stressed about your mounting medical bills and wondering if they will be fully covered. As car accident lawyers, our clients sometimes ask: How much would the at fault driver have to pay for a victim who was severely injured in the crash? When we meet with clients for a free initial consultation, we ask questions to help us understand how much their accident claim may be worth. This includes looking at the full cost of current and future medical bills, rehabilitation, long-term care, and any lasting disability.
How Much Would the At Fault Driver Have to Pay for a Victim Who Was Severely Injured in the Crash?
The amount an at-fault driver may have to pay an injured person depends on several factors, including the severity of the injuries, the cost of medical treatment, and how the injuries affect the victim’s life. In most cases, these damages are paid through the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy. However, if the cost of the damages is higher than what the insurance policy covers, the victim may be able to seek additional compensation directly from the driver’s personal assets with the help of a personal injury lawyer.
Cost of medical treatment based on the severity of the injuries:
Medical costs can vary greatly, but here’s a general breakdown of average costs for medical care in the U.S. following a car accident based on the severity of the injuries:
- Minor injuries (like whiplash, headaches, minor sprains, small cuts, or bruises): $3,000 to $10,000
- Moderate injuries (such as broken bones, concussions, or torn ligaments): $10,000 to $50,000
- Severe injuries (including traumatic brain injuries or internal damage): $50,000 to $100,000+
- Catastrophic injuries (such as permanent disabilities or long-term hospitalization): $250,000 to several million dollars over a lifetime
How the injuries impact the victim’s life:
For a victim with severe injuries, the impact goes far beyond just medical bills. Catastrophic injuries can change every part of a person’s life, from their ability to work to how they care for themselves each day. As a result, the at-fault driver may also be responsible for compensating for the ways the injury has affected the victim’s quality of life, including:
- Lost wages if the victim can’t work
- Future lost income if the victim is permanently disabled
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Long-term care or rehabilitation
- Home or vehicle modifications (like wheelchair ramps)
Every case is different, so it’s important to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer who can evaluate the full value of your claim and help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Seek the Help of a Car Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one was injured in a collision because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! Since 1979, our personal injury law firm, Tario & Associates, P.S., has been dedicated to fighting for the rights of people injured throughout Washington State, with local offices in Bellingham and Mount Vernon to serve residents of Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and Snohomish counties. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
