How to get the most from your car accident claim (Part 1)?

February 12, 2021

How to get the most from your car accident claim (Part 1)?

car accident claim

If you’re an innocent victim of a car accident, under the law, you might have the rights to recover a substantial amount for your compensation by filing a car accident claim. Here we will discuss how can you as the victim recover the most for your compensation.

Not all vehicle drivers are lucky enough to escape from an auto accident with our scrapes and bruises. An auto accident could have life-altering consequences and pretty significant financial burdens that you couldn’t expect. And in most cases, you’re not the one who caused those hardships.

What can be sources of compensation for a car accident victim?

Every day, throughout the U.S. drivers and their passengers sustain serious and sometimes even fatal injuries in car accidents.

We all understand the basic principle. If someone causes an accident which leaves others injured, the party at fault is supposed to compensate for those injuries. Generally speaking, that rule applies, but with some minor alterations. There are various ways the innocent party can be compensated through a car accident claim for its injuries caused by someone’s poor choice or dangerous conduct.

No-fault insurance coverage and car accident claims

Some U.S. states require that you purchase a no-fault auto insurance when you register your vehicle. This type of insurance provides coverage in personal injury cases when someone is injured in a car accident and submits a car accident claim. With this type of insurance, it doesn’t matter who is the at-fault party.

Aside from this no-fault insurance, some states also require you to PIP or Personal Injury Protection coverage. The legal requirement is that every driver must carry at least a $10,000 in PIP medical and disability benefits.

No-fault PIP coverage

This type of insurance is used at the first source of compensation for the injuries sustained in a car accident. No-fault PIP insurance provides coverage for:

  • The driver
  • The driver who drives the driver’s car
  • Relative who live in the same household
  • Certain people struck by the car and
  • Passengers that don’t have their own PIP insurance

In case of an accident, before turning to any other type of coverage, all those people must turn first to their PIP coverage. The PIP will cover their medical care and any disabilities that occurred because of the car accident.

Long-term disability coverage and health insurance

We live in the age where healthcare costs are much higher, and the minimum of PIP coverage, which is $10,000 won’t provide sufficient compensation. PIP will usually cover only minor injuries caused by the car accident. But any severe injury can easily surpass the $10,000 mark in medical bills and lost time at work.

In the event that your PIP runs out, you can turn to other insurance policies like health insurance or long-term disability insurance. However, not everyone has these insurances and they sometimes don’t cover all the expenses associated with the car accident.

Legal liability insurance coverage

In case your PIP isn’t enough, through your car accident claim, you can also seek coverage for your severe injuries from the party at fault for the car accident. Some states outline for what type of injuries can you, as the victim of the accident, directly sue the party at fault. These injuries can include:

  • Permanent or significant loss of an important bodily function
  • Permanent or significant disfigurement
  • Permanent injuries with reasonable degree of medical probability, aside from scarring and disfigurement
  • Wrongful death

Getting the most for your compensation from the at fault party for these types of injuries usually requires a skilled and experience car accident attorney. Make sure to contact us and schedule a free consultation, if you or your loved one sustained an injury caused by someone else’s negligent driving.

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