How Much Compensation Can I Get For A Car Accident Injury? 

 Posted on April 10, 2025 in Car Accidents

Auto accidents can lead to significant, expensive injuries. When another party causes the crash, California law entitles victims to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering.

Most injury victims wonder how much they can receive for their injuries after an auto accident. Insurance payouts vary, ranging between thousands of dollars on the low end to millions on the high end, depending on the situation. Whether it is a minor or severe injury, a top-notch California car and truck accident attorney can fight for every dollar in your case. 

Three Types of Car Accident Compensation 

Car accident compensation falls into the following categories: 

• Economic damages: Tangible costs from the accident, including medical expenses and lost wages. 

• Non-economic damages: Covers pain, suffering, and mental anguish related to the injuries and subsequent medical treatments. Pain and suffering are more difficult to quantify, and your car accident attorney will rely on your doctor’s opinion to document the severity of your discomfort. 

• Punitive damages: Rarely awarded after a car accident, but if the liable party’s actions were extremely reckless, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the driver. 

How much you can receive in compensation for your economic and non-economic damages hinges on these factors: 

Severity of Your Injuries

The more serious your injuries, the higher the potential compensation. For example, a broken arm from a T-bone crash is a substantial injury, but full recovery is usually possible in several months. On the other hand, a severe head injury could permanently disable you. 

Medical Expenses

More severe injuries cost more to treat. For example, first-year medical costs for a high tetraplegia spinal cord injury may exceed $1 million, plus $185,000 in annual care. 

Insurance Limits

Minimum liability coverage in California is $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident. If the at-fault driver has minimal coverage, obtaining full compensation for a serious head or spine injury may be challenging. A car accident attorney can explore whether it is financially worthwhile to sue the driver directly for additional compensation. 

Lost Wages

A severe injury may leave you permanently disabled, and you could receive compensation for lost earning capacity. This type of compensation would boost the value of your claim because you may be entitled to lost income for your remaining work years. 

Strong Evidence of Fault

Concrete evidence of fault will likely boost your auto accident claim value. For example, suppose there is a traffic camera video of the other driver running a red light and hitting you. In that case, their insurance company may increase their settlement offer to avoid a lawsuit. 

Call for a Free Consultation with a Los Angeles, CA Car Accident Attorney 

How much can you get in an auto accident lawsuit? Compensation depends on many factors, and obtaining the most for your losses requires exceptional legal skill and experience. 

Our Glendale, CA auto accident lawyer at Tahmazian Law Firm, P.C. will calculate your economic and non-economic damages and demand the maximum compensation from the liable insurance company or individual. Call our personal injury attorney at 818-242-8201 for a free consultation.