Not long after a car accident, you hear from the insurance adjuster. If the accident was not your fault, you might have expected to be paid a certain amount – after all, the wreck was not your fault. Unfortunately, many accident victims are disappointed when the settlement offer arrives and they feel understandably upset at the low offer. Read on to find out more about how accident settlements are calculated and how to take action when your settlement offer falls far short of what you expected.

Medical Expenses – The number of your medical bills may vary, but even minor accidents can cost thousands of dollars. If you have health insurance, you can use that to pay medical expenses. Your health insurance carrier will then file a claim against either your insurance or the other driver's insurance carrier for reimbursement. If you do not have health insurance, you may be the recipient of outrageous medical bills. The at-fault driver's insurance should pay the bills, but it can take months to accomplish this act. In the meantime, you will be contacted, harassed, and possibly even sued in an effort to collect the medical costs owed for the accident. Instead of dealing with all that, it's better to contact a personal injury attorney. They can speed things along and take legal action if necessary.

Property Damage – If you are unhurt and only your car is damaged, you may still experience a lower settlement offer than anticipated. When your car costs more to repair than it is worth, it will be considered "totaled". This is supposed to result in a payment that allows you to purchase a new, similar vehicle. There is more to the calculation, however. The amount you receive is based on the vehicle's current depreciated value and may not be enough to pay for a new vehicle. If the vehicle is fairly new and you still owe money for it, more unpleasant surprises may be in store. If you are "upside down" on your car financing (the balance on the loan is higher than the value), then you may end up having to pay off a car loan for a vehicle that you no longer have use of. In many cases, it will be necessary to speak to a personal injury attorney for help in suing to get paid what you are owed for your wrecked car.

Pain, Suffering, and Lost Wages -- These issues are seldom addressed by an insurance policy and require you to take legal action. You may not have enough paid time off to deal with the injury and will suffer a loss of income during your recuperation period. Additionally, if your injuries were serious, you may be entitled to payment for pain and suffering. Speak to an attorney to learn more about how to make your life more manageable after an accident that was not your fault.

Contact local auto accident attorneys for more help.