Why an average tells you so little
An average mixes small claims with very large ones. A handful of big cases can pull the number up, while most claims look nothing like it.
Settlement details often aren't made public, so any average is built from limited information. Even an accurate number wouldn't tell you what your own claim is worth.
What actually moves a settlement
- How clear it is who caused the crash.
- Medical records that show your injuries and steady treatment.
- Proof of lost income and other costs.
- How much insurance coverage the at fault driver has, and what other coverage applies.
- How believable each side's story is, based on the evidence.
- Whether a lawsuit has been filed, and how close the deadline is.
- State law on fault and damages, which differs between Arizona and Georgia.
The 3-Point Claim Check
- 1
An injury
You were hurt, even if it didn't seem serious at first.
- 2
Someone else at fault
Another driver or company caused the crash.
- 3
Insurance coverage
There's a policy that may cover what happened.
Policy limits often set the practical ceiling
An insurer generally won't pay more than its policy limit on a claim. When an injury is serious and coverage is low, the limit can matter more than any average.
That's why it helps to find out early what coverage exists, including your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage if you have it.
About the big numbers in ads
When you see a large figure in an ad, it's about one specific case with its own facts, injuries and insurance. It doesn't predict what anyone else will get.
It's fine to be curious about those numbers. Just keep in mind that your claim will be judged on your facts, not on someone else's result.
How to judge an offer you've received
- Does it cover your medical bills so far and the care you may still need?
- Does it cover the pay you've lost, and any future lost income?
- Does it account for how the injury has affected your daily life?
- Is it based on a fault share you agree with?
- Does signing release every claim from the crash?
- It's fair to ask the adjuster to explain in writing how they reached the offer.