Insurance Covers That, Right? What Accident Victims Need To Know

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If you have been hurt because of the actions of a careless driver, you are likely owed compensation. Many victims make the mistake of assuming that since the other driver was insured, things should be smooth sailing. However, insurance has its limits and may leave those who don't know any better with unpaid damages. To understand what you can expect the insurer to cover and what to do to get paid the total amount you need, read below.

Insurance Companies Can be Difficult

Even if insurers were to cover accident victims for all their losses, they may be difficult to work with. The other driver that caused the accident is their client. They work for them, and they may not want to pay you for your car repair, medical bills, and other things until they are forced to do so. Usually, they only begin to honor their obligation after the victims get a personal injury lawyer on their side to help them. Just having a lawyer can get the insurer to return phone calls, pay claims, and cooperate with victims.

Victims Often Have Unmet Needs

The negative things that can happen to a victim of a car accident are nearly too many to count. Unfortunately, many victims only realize too late that the insurer will only pay what is owed if you ask for a settlement from them and threaten to take them to court. A settlement is when you are paid a lump sum amount of money that covers all your losses. 

The Full Scope of Damages

While many insurers will agree to pay your medical bills and for a vehicle repair, the below forms of damage may only be available if you get a lawyer on your case to advocate for you. It's the threat of a lawsuit that can turn a case from an inadequate amount of money to a full payment of damages.

  • Medical expenses that exceed what the insurer wants to pay. One major example of this is future medical costs after the case has been settled. You are entitled to be paid for your medical treatment caused by the other driver even if the treatment takes place months from now.
  • Lost wages from a job. If you missed time from work, you also missed income and that should be paid back to you.
  • Pain and suffering caused by having to deal with the physical injuries. Taking legal action is only way to get paid this very valuable form of personal injury damages.

To find out more, speak to a personal injury law firm, such as Ruiz Law Firm.

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18 May 2022

Getting Legal Help When You Need It Most

I have never been someone who likes the idea of suing another person, but after my family was plowed into by a drunk driver with no regard for the law, my tune changed. I realized that I needed to do what I could in order to make things right, so I started looking for a lawyer who could help me to fight for the settlement I deserved. It took a few months in court, but by the time I won my settlement, I felt a lot better about things. This blog is all about getting the legal help you need when you need it the most.