The law clearly states that car accident victims are eligible for compensation for injuries. However, before you go on to sue the negligent driver for all the damages, you need to know that the insurance organizations hardly pay anything more than the insurance policy limits of a defendant. But when you join hands with an expert car accident attorney, you can get extra compensation for all your injuries.
The insurance policy liability limits curb compensation
Each state has its laws that administer the minimum car liability coverage. According to the law, the minimum liability limits that the car drivers have include:
- A physical injury liability coverage of approximately $15,000 for each individual and about $30,000 for every accident.
- The property damage liability is approximately $5,000.
- An uninsured motorist’s physical injury coverage is about $15,000 for each person and approximately $30,000 for every accident.
The majority of the drivers usually have the minimum insurance stated by the law. Also, there are a few who don’t have any insurance at all. Are you wondering how it is possible? It’s important to know that a few vehicle operators drive without any insurance or license. And a few drivers stay in the states that need no car liability insurance. Also, the drivers who don’t have any or have very little automobile liability insurance often prove to be a financial downfall or severe accident victims.
It is expected of insurance companies to operate well and help to settle the claims relying on facts. The liability insurance coverage gets designed to cover the limits, but these policies come with monetary restrictions. In few regions, when a driver has a minimum liability limit as stated by the law, insurance organizations usually pay about $30,000 every accident and about $5,000 for the property damage. However, when you join hands with an expert lawyer, there can be a few exceptions to this. To know more about this, you can Visit Cambre & Associates: car accident lawyer Atlanta Here.
Collating the extra damages
After any car accident injury, the initial thing you need to do is to get in touch with an expert car accident lawyer. This lawyer will collect all the necessary evidence, access the accident details, and decide the amount of insurance coverage the accountable driver possesses. Just in case the driver has insufficient insurance, the car accident lawyer can search more on extra compensation sources that comprise of the following:
- Umbrella insurance coverage
The car insurance policies come with coverage limits, approximately $500,000 or lesser. The umbrella insurance usually picks up in the place where car policies leave. The majority of organizations that sell the umbrella insurance provide it in increments of $1 million. And the individuals who get their vehicles insured for a high amount can supplement the liability coverage for several dollars. The expert car accident lawyers have a clear understanding of the umbrella policies to secure the personal assets of the drivers post an accident and help compensate the accident victims for all injuries.
- Poor faith judgment against an insurance organization
At times, the insurance organizations fail to operate in good faith. And they don’t compensate fairly for the injury victims. And when an organization does that, they might get financially accountable for the actions. For instance, a legal case moves to the court, and the jury or judge finds out that an insurance organization acted in poor faith. Here the injured individual will collate the damages beyond the policy limit. Also, the company needs to pay the extra judgment amount. A few other instances of poor faith are:
- Not promptly investigating the accident
- Not explaining the reason for denying the claim
- Not paying the compensation promptly
Usually, the poor faith lawsuits are hard to prove and need the expertise of an expert car accident lawyer.
- A personal injury case against various defendants
It could be that more people are guilty of all your injuries. Here you can collect the compensation based on their liability insurance policy. For example, suppose a commercial truck hits you. In that case, you can collect compensation based on the trucking company and driver’s insurance and the ones who negligently worked on their vehicle, amongst the others. The big organizations generally have massive liability insurance coverage, enabling you to get compensated for the injuries, costs, and related expenses. And if there were two or more vehicles involved in the car accident, you can also get compensation from them. An expert car accident lawyer can enable you to sort the facts and decide the one accountable for the accident.
A personal judgment against an accountable defendant
An at-fault driver’s liability insurance coverage might fail to compensate for your injuries. In such a situation, you have the option to sue the driver. Also, you can check if the driver possesses assets that you can get liquidated or sold? Can you place a lien on the property and get the wages garnished? In that case, a car accident lawyer can let you know if the driver possesses other assets.
When do you need to get in touch with a car accident lawyer?
You need to contact a car accident lawyer for guidance when you get injured in an accident. The expert lawyer can decide whether you have a legal case, research the person accountable for it, and negotiate with the accountable person’s insurance organization to provide you with the desired compensation.
If you are involved in an automobile accident, it can have devastating consequences, such as physical injuries, emotional distress, and substantial financial losses. That’s why seeking a car accident lawyer in orange county (or wherever it was that the accident happened) is essential. These attorneys can assist you in getting the compensation that you deserve.
How to approach an out of state car accident?
Most people love to drive their car as it provides them the freedom to drive when and where they want. However, accidents do take place at all times and in areas where drivers don’t reside. But irrespective of where you stay, it is necessary to possess ample insurance coverage and get in touch with an expert car accident lawyer to assist you in the complex legal procedure.
What should you do after the out of state car accident?
Regardless of a car accident taking place out-of-state or at home state, you should:
- Get in touch with the police, document all accident details, and file a report.
- Get medical care for the injuries.
- Contact the car insurance organization and share the accident details with them.
- Get in touch with a car accident lawyer and take their guidance. You might get several calls about the accident. It’s essential to direct the call to your lawyer. If you don’t have an expert lawyer, there is minimal security against another driver’s insurance organization.
- Refrain from interacting with another driver’s insurance organization representatives. Neither should you discuss the accident with anyone till such time your lawyer tells you to.
- Not sign documents forfeiting the right to suing before discussing with your car accident lawyer.
The insurance coverage for out-of-state accidents
Each state comes with its minimum car insurance needs. And your car policy will possess a segment that outlines the out-of-state insurance coverage. If a driver encounters an accident in a different state, the insurance organizations usually interpret and manage their policy holder’s coverage to cater to the minimum state requirements. Some regions need a $15,000 minimum liability coverage for death or injury for an individual, $5,000 for property damage, and $30,000 for death or injury to more than two people. Hence, if a driver possesses a liability insurance coverage of $10,000 in their home state and has witnessed an accident elsewhere, the coverage will get managed in a way to cater to their minimum liability standards depending on the out-of-state requirements.
A comparative negligence state
Some regions are a comparative negligence state. It means that the defendants can claim for comparative negligence as a defense to bring down their fault. Suppose you get injured in a car accident with a person residing in a no-fault insurance region. In that case, their vehicle insurance will get managed according to the comparative negligence laws. The courts use comparative negligence to decide who is accountable for accidents and compensation based on the property damage and personal injury. The payment that an individual gets depends on their negligence percentage. If you get involved in an accident, get in touch with your car accident lawyer.
You can buy high insurance coverage.
It is not advised to depend on another driver to possess ample liability coverage to cover your property damage and injuries. Several attorneys and insurance companies suggest having more liability insurance coverage. It is because the ideal way to secure yourself before you encounter an accident is to possess increased limits of Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage. This insurance can cover you when the driver accountable for your injuries possesses inadequate or no liability insurance.
Filing for a lawsuit with a car accident attorney
If you have encountered an out-of-state car accident leading to severe injuries, it’s natural to take legal action against the accountable driver. When you file a lawsuit, you can get the desired compensation to pay for your lost wages, medical bills, pain, and vehicle damage.
