After any car accident, you should take certain steps.
- Determine if anyone is injured.
- Move to a safe location.
- Collect information about other driver.
- Document the scene.
- Call police.
- Contact an attorney.
But what if the other driver doesn’t have any insurance? Or what if they have minimal insurance and you have serious injuries? Or what if the other driver leaves the scene without giving you any information?
According to the most recent data from the Insurance Information Institute, about 13 percent of motorists are uninsured in the United States. Although drivers in Pennsylvania are required to have car insurance, some drivers remain uninsured.
The minimum limits for Pennsylvania auto insurance are:
- Bodily injury liability coverage: $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident
- Property damage liability coverage: $5,000
- First party benefits: $5,000
In many accidents, the minimum amount of insurance will not cover a serious injury. These minimum limits were set in the 1970s, and do not contemplate current costs. They are grossly inadequate to compensate people for harms they suffer in car accidents. This is where uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage comes into play.
If you have been injured in a car accident, contact an attorney immediately. It is vital to your case that an immediate investigation take place. You may not be in a position to document the conditions, but if your attorney can examine the scene close in time to when the accident occurred, you will preserve your best chance at recovering for your injury. Your attorney can help ensure that the evidence necessary to prove liability is preserved and guide you through this system to get the best outcome for yourself and your family.
What is uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage?
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is insurance that will pay for your damages if the at-fault driver does not have enough insurance to cover all of your losses. The amount of coverage is something that you select at the time you purchase an insurance policy. That amount represents the total amount you would be able to recover in a claim so make sure to select sufficient limits to protect you and your family.
Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage applies to you, your family and your passengers for bodily injury if you are hit by an at-fault uninsured motorist.
Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage applies to you, your family and your passengers for bodily injury if you are hit by an at-fault motorist who does not have enough insurance to cover your claim. UM and UIM do not not cover damage to property.
How does uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage work?
In order to recover under uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, you must prove that the other driver was at fault for the accident and that their insurance is insufficient to cover your damages.
Can I sue an uninsured or underinsured driver?
Although it may be possible to file a lawsuit against the driver or any other party who contributed to the accident, drivers who have little or no insurance coverage are unlikely to have sufficient resources to pay damages.
Why should I call an attorney?
An attorney can investigate your accident and help you identify other parties who may be liable.
When you are injured through someone else’s negligence, you need a team who is going to consider your past needs, your present needs and your future needs. Because Aversa & Linn offers free consultations, calling to consult us has no downside and a big potential upside.
For many car accidents, your case will never go to court; it will be resolved by dealing with insurance companies’ claims departments. Insurance companies train their adjusters, employees and attorneys to look out for the interest of the company. While this experience may be new and unfamiliar to you, the insurance company adjusters handle hundreds of these claims on a daily basis.
If you have been injured in a car accident, you need to make sure someone is protecting your rights. You need someone who is going to make sure your injuries are receiving the treatment they need to heal. If an insurance company is not listening to your story, you need an attorney who will make sure you are heard. The insurance companies will not look out for your rights, but the lawyers at Aversa & Linn will.
Contact Aversa & Linn for assistance in evaluating your claim.
