Physical injuries form a significant part of many auto accident cases. However, an auto accident defendant should compensate you for all losses related to the accident — including property damages. Below are some of the losses to include in your property damage claim.
Car Repair
The most obvious damage is the cost of fixing your car. The repair cost exists even in a minor auto accident. The defendant should compensate you for the cost to bring back your car to its pre-accident level.
Upgrade Replacements
If you had upgraded your car, then the cost of the upgrades should make it to your property damage calculations. Maybe you had installed a more powerful engine or equipped the car with a state-of-the-art entertainment system. In either case, the defendant or their insurance company would do you great disservice to compensate you with a stock car that doesn't include the upgrades.
Damaged Baby Car or Booster Seat
A damaged baby seat loses its ability to protect a child in case of an accident. A baby seat may lose its effectiveness even in a relatively minor accident. Most safety experts advise motorist to replace baby seats or booster seats after accidents, even if the damage doesn't look extensive. Insist on a replacement from the defendants.
Car Replacement
You might not be able to repair your car if the accident totals it. The auto insurance company can decide to write off your car if the cost of the repairs exceeds the cost of a replacement car. The insurance company may reach the same conclusion if the damage would leave your car dangerous even after repair. Again, your damages should include the cost of replacing your car with a similar one.
Rental Car Costs
You may have to wait for some time for the insurance company to repair or replace your car. the wait can inconvenience you since you won't be able to use your car. The defendant should compensate you with a rental car you can use during the waiting period.
Damaged or Lost Personal Property
The defendant should not just compensate your damaged car, but all other personal properties that the accident damaged. Examples include groceries, laptops, books, tools, and any other personal item in the car at the time of the crash.
Your property damage claim can be significant if you have an expensive car, your car experienced extensive damages, or you had expensive items in the car at the time of the crash. As such, you should treat your property damage claim just as serious as your physical injury claim.
To learn more, contact an auto accident attorney in your area.
Share24 March 2020
If you are injured in an accident, what is your first move? While getting medical care should be your first priority, the fact of the matter is that working with the right lawyer can be incredibly helpful in making it easier to prevent problems. For starters, your lawyer can talk with you about what to do in order to prevent problems with your paperwork, and he or she can chat with you about what to do when you start getting calls from other attorneys talking about the case. On this website, check out great tips and tricks you can use to prevent problems with your recovery from a financial perspective.
