How much can I expect after being hit by a car?

Question

I got hit by a car in a parking lot. I didn't brake any bones, but my neck and back are bothering and I've been thinking of getting legal help to request compensation for personal injury.
Does anyone know how long the process usually takes and how much can I ask for?

Answer 1

Ask for compensation for:
1. Any medical expenses
2. Downtime expenses - i.e. loss of income, etc. related to it
3. Psychological compensation - i.e. for pain, having to live with a bad neck and back, as well as the mental images of what happened

more importantly, get that driver's license taken away, for the benefit of others.

Answer 2

Bless you for seeming to have escaped such serious injury after being a pedestrian in a car accident! Getting a personal injury attorney as soon as possible is a wise idea. I'm not a lawyer, but I've heard that various types of accidents can have a statute of limitations (certain time constraints) on when the lawsuit needs to be filed by. It doesn't matter if it's not a huge settlement in the end process, it just matters that there is some compensation for your pain and suffering and the trauma of it all. And you may be able to get your medical bills paid for which might include physical therapy (need a referral from dr to get physical therapy) that you may need for your neck and back. Your doctor may refer you to an orthopedic dr who deals with the bones and muscles and may send you for an mri to see if there is any injury to the vertebral discs in the neck and/or back. An emg (electromylogram) is a test to check for pinched nerves. A lawyer should be able to get those expenses paid for or most of them paid for but if so, typically at the end of the case.

The process of a personal injury case can take at least a couple of years til reaching some sort of settlement as I've been in a few motor vehicle accidents (mva) and just for the record :) none were my fault. (Water/aquatics therapy supervised by a physical therapy really helped my neck and back btw.) Perhaps you can look at the yellow pages under 'lawyers' and find a few that offer free consultations to see how you feel with them, what your gut tells you. Also, please do check their credentials, and perhaps inquire at some kind of certification board if that particular lawyer has had any complaints in the past or such. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis (and please be sure to get a written contract), which means that the lawyer will only get however much of a percentage (25% for example) of the client's (you) settlement, if the lawsuit ends in your favor. So please do follow up on your injuries and for the fact that you were a pedestrian . **It's best to go to a doctor first and get your injuries documented. Then really consider making an appointment with an attorney. Feel better soon and good luck!

Answer 3

You can ask for what ever you feel is appropriate.Whether you get it or not is another matter.
My best friend was hit by a car. She was injured severely.Went through the guys windshield.He took off and left her there to die in the street.There was a witness that got his plate number.She is now considered permanently disabled.She got zilch from her law suit.He pleaded poverty and the judge felt sorry for him.He got 6 months in jail,but was not made to pay any of her medical bills.
It would probably be a good idea to get a lawyer the specializes in personal injury.They can tell you what you are entitled to.Hope you don't have any permanent problems because of this.

Answer 4

So, you were not in a car? Someone hit your physical body? If this is the case, yes you should get legal help for this. Having your neck and back out of alignment can actually cause problems later with your organ system. why? b/c your neck is partly in charge of the nervous system. anyways, sometimes the process can be quite long. I would get on it now, if I were you. don't delay. legal matters take time and you need to speak w/ an attourney in regards to how much you should ask for. in the mean time, be smart and do your research. see if you can see a non-manipulative chiropractor. she/he will only adjust the neck (w/out cracking) and this will repair your body. good luck.

Answer 5

Well obviously, you need to have taken proper precautions. If you have a back ache now, but it was caused by the accident and you didn't visit the hospital after the accident, don't expect a penny. That's your fault, because the damages could be caused by something else, or have been made worse by you avoiding it. If you did go to the hospital, and you can prove that the injury was caused by the car accident then you have a case. You can get money to recover your medical bills, including psychological councilors if you can get a letter from your councilor that treatment was for problems caused by the accident.

Basically, I'm assuming that you didn't go to the hospital, and that makes it extremely hard to win a case. The case would be against him, but it would be fought by his insurance company. They have good lawyers. It would be expensive to fight.

Answer 6

Don't waste your time.
If you are not seriously and permanently injured, you will not get enough money to make it worth your while.
You will also have a hard time finding an attorney to represent you. Personal injury attorneys make $$ on a percentage basis. If you just got scrapes/bruises, aren't hospitalized and debilitated, there's no payoff.
If you have legitimate concerns, assuming you have the driver's information, contact them about seeing a doctor. They will contact their insurance company and you will get an appointment for examination.
Trust me, there's no pot of gold for this rainbow. Count your blessings you're not really hurt.