Insurance in Car Accident Cases
You were in a car accident. Whether you sustained serious injuries or were mostly unharmed, having insurance will make your life much less stressful. With liability coverage (standard car insurance), you’ll be protected financially if you suffer injuries or vehicle damage.
This coverage works on the other side of the coin, too – if you caused an accident, liability coverage will help pay the other person’s expenses. You’ll also be protected from negligence claims that fall within the limits defined in your policy.
Insurance is hardly ever straightforward. Combine that with the fact that many insurance carriers try to offer a much lower settlement amount than you need and you’ve built a strong case for hiring a car accident attorney.
Our lawyers at Get Car Accident Money know how to negotiate with your and the other party’s insurance carrier to recover the maximum amount of compensation. Contact our expert attorneys today for more information and to schedule a free case consultation.
What Does Liability Car Insurance Cover?
Drivers in almost every state must have auto liability insurance. This coverage is available in two forms: bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage.
Bodily injury liability coverage.
This type of coverage is sometimes referred to as BI. It protects you if you were at fault for a car accident that caused another person’s injuries. This coverage will help pay their medical expenses. This way, you can avoid having to pay out of pocket for the injured person’s treatment and procedures.
Property damage liability coverage.
This coverage is similar in scope to that of bodily injury. If you cause an accident that damages another person’s vehicle or their possessions in the vehicle, you’ll be covered for the repairs and replacement costs.
For example, if you hit someone’s car and the force of impact shatters their laptop, your insurance may cover the cost of a replacement computer.
Auto Insurance Liability Limits
If you cause a car crash, the amount your insurer will pay to the injured party depends on the coverage limits you have. Put simply, a coverage limit is the maximum amount of money an insurance company will pay for a claim. Each state has its own regulations and minimum coverage amount for both bodily and property damage liability, but you can purchase additional coverage. Three commonly seen liability coverage limits are:
- Bodily injury liability limit. This is the maximum insurance payout amount determined by the number of people involved.
- Per person. This includes the maximum payout for each person injured in an accident that you cause.
- Per accident. This coverage determines the maximum amount of insurance payout if you injure many people in a single accident.
- Property damage liability limit. This is the maximum amount that your insurance will pay if you cause a car wreck and damage another person’s property.
If You’re in an Accident and Don’t Have Insurance
Depending on where you live, you may face fines, license suspension, or even jail time for driving without insurance. There are even more serious repercussions if you drive without insurance and cause an accident. You’ll have to pay out of pocket for the other party’s damages and you may even be sued by the injured party.
No matter if you or the other party are uninsured, your chances of recovering from a car accident are far greater with a car accident lawyer. Our attorneys at Get Car Accident Money are knowledgeable and dedicated to recovering the compensation you need to pay for your injuries or damages.
Get Car Accident Money can also help if you caused a car accident and are now facing legal consequences. We will represent you and work toward obtaining the money you need.
Even if the accident was not your fault, without insurance you may not be able to pursue legal action against the at-fault party. Some states deter or strongly discourage uninsured drivers from suing for damages. For example, uninsured drivers in Louisiana must pay a $25,000 deductible for repairs before they can sue.
It’s best to purchase insurance – you’ll be covered for the future. You may not be able to anticipate everything that happens to you, but you can mitigate the effects by being prepared.
If You’re in an Accident With an Uninsured or Underinsured Driver
If you have auto insurance and are involved in a crash with an uninsured driver, you may be able to receive compensation from your own insurer. This is because most auto insurance policies include at least a minimal amount of uninsured driver coverage.
If an uninsured motorist hits you, you can make a claim against your insurance company for uninsured driver benefits. You don’t have to pay out of pocket just because someone else didn’t make the responsible decision to buy insurance.
Most insurance companies also sell policies with a minimum amount of “underinsured” driver coverage. Similar to uninsured policies, with underinsured coverage you can make a claim against your own insurance carrier for an amount within the coverage limit.
It’s important to understand that you can only make this type of claim if your underinsured driver coverage exceeds the at-fault driver’s own policy limits. Also, keep in mind that you can only purchase an amount of uninsured and underinsured coverage equal to or less than your standard liability coverage.
For example, if you have $75,000 in liability coverage, you cannot exceed $75,000 in uninsured or underinsured coverage.