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Determining what counts as a fair car accident settlement comes down to who has the skill and experience to prove your full losses. Regan Zambri Long’s Washington, DC car accident lawyers have nearly 200 years of combined experience securing life-changing results for crash victims across the region. Our board-certified attorneys have recovered major car accident settlements of $15 million, $10.6 million, $10 million, and $9.5 million, helping clients rebuild their lives after devastating injuries.
Our firm retains experts to prove fault and build a clear, evidence-based picture of your injuries and long-term needs. We front all costs, so every resource is in play from day one. With two partners among the top 1% of trial lawyers in America and over 100 5 star reviews, the firm’s reputation is grounded in results, not promises.
Have you been injured in a Washington, DC car accident? We understand how uncertain the path forward can feel. Contact Regan Zambri Long today, and one of our award-winning attorneys will call you back personally. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there’s no fee unless we win your case.
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According to the National Safety Council, the average economic cost of a car accident varies from $6,300 for property damage only to $1,952,000 in the event of a death. Determining the value of a car accident settlement begins with an inventory of your economic losses and non-economic damages. Once you’ve taken inventory, you will have a general idea of the financial impact of the car accident case and how much compensation you should claim.
Economic losses are the easier part of your settlement calculations, in theory. Economic loss refers to any specific financial expense or loss, such as medical expenses, property damage, and lost wages.
After adding up your current economic losses, you must consider what future losses and expenses will be critical. Continued medical care will mean future medical bills, which should be compensated.
Non-economic damages are hard to calculate because they are not tangible bills or expenses. These damages are for things such as pain and suffering. For example, if you were in a car accident and are now facing severe anxiety that keeps you from driving, that suffering would be non-economic damage (and bills from a therapist to work through the anxiety would be an economic loss).
Typically, an insurance adjuster will take the value of the economic losses and multiply the total by a number between 1.5 and 5, depending on facts, including how severe the injuries are, how much medical treatment is expected, the likelihood of a full recovery, and long-term and permanent effects.
The number used for calculating these damages will be a central point of contention in your car accident settlement, so having an experienced attorney is essential. Research shows that the average car accident settlement is around $8,200, while cases involving injuries average roughly $29,700, showing how settlement values vary widely based on injury severity, recovery time, and the quality of legal representation.
You shouldn’t choose a multiplying number at random or the highest number simply because it’s the highest. Your best chance at successful negotiation will come from being honest about the extent of your injuries and losses and choosing a fitting number.
The car accident attorneys at Regan Zambri Long will help you review your losses and damages and determine the most appropriate multiplier for your case. The more severe or permanent your injuries, the longer the recovery time, the more intensive the medical treatment, and/or the more painful your injuries are, the higher the multiplier should be.
You would use a lower number if you only suffered a whiplash car accident injury, but you might use a middling number if you suffered broken bones or a concussion. A permanent disability or lost limb would require a high multiplier.
These calculations will give you a starting place for negotiations with the insurance company. Remember, even if you didn’t pay costs out of pocket or had PTO benefits to cover lost income, you are still entitled to financial compensation for those costs and losses.
Making these calculations can be overwhelming, but the car accident attorneys at Regan Zambri Long are here to help. During your free case evaluation, your attorney will work with you to begin calculating how much compensation you are owed. Call us today at 202-960-4596 to schedule your consultation and take the first step in your settlement claim.
Trusting that a settlement offer is fair and reasonable would be nice. But the unfortunate reality is that, sometimes, insurance companies will offer the least amount they think they can get away with, offering an unfair settlement. You should not accept a settlement offer without consulting your attorney. Often, the first offer is unfair and a starting place for negotiations.
A fair settlement offer will, first and foremost, cover all existing expenses and losses. All your medical bills, lost income, and property damage costs should be included in a fair settlement. Once you are sure those things are included, you should consider how much is being offered to cover future expenses (continued treatment, compensation for permanent disability or treatment) and how much compensation is offered for the mental and emotional suffering the accident caused.
The best way to know if a car accident settlement is fair is to consult with a qualified car accident attorney. At Regan Zambri Long, our personal injury lawyers have decades of cumulative experience with car accident cases. If you have already started the process and received a settlement offer, a car accident lawyer at Regan Zambri Long will review the car accident settlement offer with you and help you determine if it is a fair offer or if you are entitled to more. Schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced lawyer to discuss the facts and value of your case.
For the most success in negotiating a settlement claim with a car insurance company, you’ll want to hire a qualified DC personal injury lawyer with a track record of satisfied clients.
The personal injury attorneys at Regan Zambri Long have been handling car accident claims for decades and can bring their cumulative experience to bear on your car accident injury settlement negotiations. Our team will help you write your claim letter, detailing the compensation you deserve from the accident and assigning a dollar value to your damages. We will patiently and persistently pursue your claim through counteroffers until we receive an offer that meets your approval and financial needs.
For more than 30 years, Regan Zambri Long has been trusted by car accident victims across Washington, DC to deliver results when it matters most. Our attorneys have recovered more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for personal injury victims, including many multimillion-dollar recoveries for crash survivors:
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All six partners have been named to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in America list, and three are ranked among the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Washington, DC.
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Our influence extends beyond the courtroom, shaping the standards of trial practice and professional excellence across the region. Within the District of Columbia Trial Lawyers Association, Jacqueline Colclough serves on the Board of Governors, while Salvatore Zambri and Paul Cornoni have both served as President and been honored as Trial Lawyer of the Year. Christopher Regan serves as Co-Chair of the association’s New Lawyers Division.
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Salvatore Zambri and Patrick Regan have also led the DC Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, with Mr. Zambri now serving as National Board Representative. Patrick Regan is also a Fellow of both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, two of the most respected honors in the profession.
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At Regan Zambri Long, our team combines proven courtroom experience with a genuine commitment to our clients’ recovery. We take on powerful insurance companies with the skill, resources, and determination needed to secure the best possible outcome.
Call us today at 202-960-4596 to schedule a free case evaluation. We don’t take any fees until we’ve recovered in your favor, so you can schedule your consultation with confidence.
Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.