Car Accident Claim Compensation Minor injuries can be managed by the victim. However, moderate-to-severe injury will require the help of a lawyer for car accidents. In the case of moderate-to-severe injury, the economic damages can be multiplied by the pain and suffering. The multiplier is based on severity and can be between one and five times the medical costs. Car accident damages There are a number of different kinds of damages that can be claimed in a car accident compensation lawsuit. Some are easy to calculate, such as the cost of prop