There is no way to determine an average settlement for an insurance claim with USAA insurance. That’s because no two car crashes are the same. Instead, the injuries suffered and damages incurred differ, thus making it impossible to determine an average or use the outcome of one claim to predict the payout in another.
USAA has a positive reputation among most people. Much of this goodwill results from being an insurance company that works with military members, veterans, and their family members. However, negotiating a fair settlement can still be difficult, and you may want to hire a car accident attorney to handle all communications about your claim with USAA for you.
What Affects the Value of My Insurance Settlement After an Accident?
A victim’s documented recoverable damages are the main factor affecting the value of an insurance payout following an accident, whether the at-fault party has USAA or another carrier. Victims hurt in a crash can recover numerous types of damages by filing a claim against the at-fault driver’s liability policy.
While the value of each case can vary widely, making it impossible to calculate the average USAA insurance settlement, the types of recoverable damages often fall into these categories.
Medical Treatment and Care Costs
Victims can seek compensation for their medical care after an accident. For example, they might have needed ambulance transportation, an initial assessment, diagnostic tests, treatment, hospitalization, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and more. They can also request compensation for expected future treatment and care costs.
Lost Income
When a person suffers severe injuries, they will likely miss time from work. That would lead to missed paychecks, benefits, and other income. In addition, if their injuries take time to heal, this absence could extend for weeks or even months.
Those with lasting injuries may have diminished earning capacity because they cannot handle their previous work tasks.
These losses are all recoverable with the proper documentation of the current losses and future missed income.
Property Damage
Crash victims can recover money for their car repairs or replacement of a totaled vehicle. The cost of replacing other damaged personal property is also recoverable.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering damages are possibly the most challenging loss to value. By their very nature, these losses are intangible. They do not have a monetary value. They include physical and emotional pain, mental anguish, psychological concerns, and more.
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USAA Is Not Immune to the Same Bad Behavior As Other Insurers
Like all insurance carriers, USAA is a corporation that looks out for its bottom line. Insurance adjusters often use tricks and tactics to pay out as little as possible to settle claims. They do not care about the actual value of the claim and offering a fair and just agreement.
Insurers may use anything the victims say or do against them. Talking to the insurer and offering a recorded statement will never help your claim. Instead, they may use it to reduce the money you can recover.
USAA and other insurers may also offer low-ball settlements, hoping you will agree to them to get the claims process over with quickly. These settlements may seem like a lot of money initially, but you should not settle until you know how much your case is worth.
Calculating the Value of an Insurance Claim
USAA, like most other insurance carriers, uses a computer program to determine how much they should pay a claimant. This program asks them to enter information such as:
- The injuries suffered
- The necessary treatment
- The property damages
- The victim’s previous income
- Their lawyer’s record of settling and trying cases
This last item is essential. Having a lawyer with a winning record who is not afraid to go to court can increase your initial offer before your attorney even begins negotiations with the insurer.
The computer programs used by insurers notoriously undervalue claims. When a personal injury lawyer calculates the value of their clients’ cases, they:
- Add all the bills, receipts, and losses
- Work with experts to estimate future costs
- Value noneconomic damages based on their experience and accepted methods
Your attorney will know how to determine an acceptable range in your case. Therefore, you should not agree to a settlement before you learn this range. The strength of your claim, any shared fault, and other facts of the case will also affect the offer.
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You May Need to Sue the At-Fault Party to Get a Fair Settlement
In some cases, USAA will not offer an appropriate settlement, banking on time running out before the victim files a personal injury lawsuit. There are deadlines set by state law, called the statute of limitations, to file suit. For example, Louisiana only offers victims up to one year to sue under La. Civ. Code Art. 3492.
If you do not settle by this date, your attorney will need to file the paperwork to begin a lawsuit. However, USAA does not frequently force a trial. Instead, it often offers a reasonable settlement long before the trial date arrives.
Speak with Morris Bart, LLC for Free Today
You can discuss your claim with the Morris Bart law firm today for free. We represent clients in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Our case results show that we know how to reach fair settlements for our clients. We work based on contingency.
Call (800) 537-8185 now to get started.
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