As a Personal Injury attorney representing clients in car accident and other accident cases in Pennsylvania, one of the most common questions I hear is “How much compensation am I entitled to after a car accident?” The answer is, it depends. First, in order to have a valid legal claim after a car accident, you must be able to prove that the other party caused the accident and you sustained injuries and damages from the accident. Assuming that both of those things can be proven, then the amount of compensation you are entitled to depends upon the severity of your injuries and damages.

Under Pennsylvania law, you are entitled to fair compensation to make up for every way in which the accident has negatively impacted your life. Compensable damages include past and future medical bills, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket expenses, as well as non-economic damages which fall under several categories, including physical and emotional pain and suffering, embarrassment and humiliation, scarring and disfigurement and loss of life’s pleasures (which is the negative impact the accident has on your life and activities).

In reality, it is up to either the insurance company or a judge or jury to decide what is the fair value of your claim. You will receive compensation either through a settlement with the insurance company or through a verdict after a trial. One of the major benefits of having an experienced Personal Injury attorney represent you in your Pennsylvania car accident case is that a car accident lawyer has knowledge and experience with regard to the fair value of your case and how to present the case to the insurance company or jury in a way which will maximize the fair value of your case. Oftentimes your attorney will need to work with other expert witnesses, including doctors, vocational experts and/or economists in order to be able to quantify your damages. In addition, your attorney will work with you and your family to determine what witnesses and evidence can be used to help the insurance company or a jury understand the full impact of the injuries on your life so that you receive full and fair compensation.