How Does Insurance Affect Your Car Accident Claim?

When examining the details of a car accident, one of the first things an attorney will do is look at the insurance policies of all the vehicles involved.

Receiving the full compensation you are entitled to may involve suing the at fault driver or his insurance.  In other instances the best way to proceed is to file a claim with your own insurance company.  Uncovering all of the facts before proceeding is a job best handled by a car accident attorney.

Liability insurance is the gold standard and is required in almost every state. 

• This type of insurance covers the driver if they are responsible for an accident.  How much liability to have depends upon the wealth of the policy holder.  The more assets that could be obtained in a lawsuit, the more liability coverage they will want to cover them. 

Collision insurance is not required, but suggested for new or expensive vehicles. 

• This will typically cover the cost to repair or replace a vehicle in the event of an accident.  If there is a lien on it, the lien holder will usually require that the owner carry collision insurance.

Personal injury protection will pay for the medical costs incurred if the person named on the policy is injured in an accident.

Uninsured and under-insured coverage protects an injured party in the event that they are involved in a collision with a motorist who has no, or insufficient liability coverage on their own vehicle.  In a wreck where multiple injuries are sustained, the limit on the liability insurance may not be enough to cover all of the medical expenses.

The amount of coverage provided by each is dependent on the policy holders’ needs or personal preference.

A Missouri car accident attorney will often want to read over the insurance policies of both drivers involved in an accident.  In some cases it is advantageous to file suit against your own insurance policy if the at fault driver does not have adequate insurance.

Missouri Auto Accidents

One other type of insurance that warrants taking a look at is called an umbrella policy.  This type of insurance provides protection for the insured above and beyond any typical policy.  A liable drivers’ insurance company is not going to openly disclose that their client has this type of insurance on top of their basic liability.  Such was the case with a Missouri woman who was injured in a collision where the other driver failed to yield the right of way.  She was badly injured and incurred medical expenses in excess of $900,000, not including the cost of future care.  The insurance company offered her the liability policies limit, which was $500,000, but initially refused to pay any compensation from the umbrella policy.  It was during mediation that a settlement amount of $925,000 was agreed upon.

When dealing with insurance companies, knowledge is definitely power.  In order to receive the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to after a car accident, it is highly advisable to consult with an experienced car accident lawyer. Contact The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. today at (314) 361-4300 to schedule a free and private consultation with a St. Louis car accident lawyer.

More resources:

accident lawyers near me

rear end collision damage

t bone collision