Car Accident Terms You Should Know

Have you been injured in a car accident? You may find that it seems like you and your personal injury attorney are speaking different languages. This is because there are many different car accident terms that you may not be familiar with if you’ve never been in this situation before. Here are some of the terms you need to know if you’re filing a personal injury claim:

Liability
Your attorney may discuss the need to determine liability in the car accident, which simply means figuring out who was at fault. Determining liability is important because whoever is at fault for the accident will be responsible for compensating you for your injuries.

Adjuster
An adjuster is also referred to as an insurance adjuster or claims adjuster. This is someone that works at an insurance company and is responsible for investigating the accident, gathering evidence, and negotiating the settlement.

Damages
In personal injury law, the term “damages” refers to compensation that the plaintiff may be able to recover from the defendant for his or her injuries. For example, car accident victims might be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Actual Cash Value
The term “actual cash value” will come up if your car was damaged in the accident. The actual cash value is the market value of your car, meaning the amount of money that you would have been able to sell your car for prior to the accident.

Total Loss
When a car cannot be repaired or the cost of repairs is more than the value of the car, the car is considered a total loss. In this situation, the at-fault driver’s insurance company typically pays you the actual cash value of your car.

Settlement
The vast majority of car accident cases will end with a settlement, which is why this is an important term to learn. A settlement is an agreement made between the plaintiff and the defendant outside of the courtroom. The plaintiff will receive compensation from the defendant in exchange for dropping the case and agreeing not to take legal action again in the future.

If you have been injured in a car accident, contact personal injury attorney James Rush at Rush Injury Law. The legal process can be confusing, but James Rush will guide you through it and help you reach the best possible outcome in your case. Contact our office by calling 415-897-4801 or filling out the online form on our website www.rushinjurylaw.com to request a free consultation.