If you have been in an auto accident, you may be facing costly medical bills and unable to return to work because of your injuries. Someone needs to pay for these losses. In most cases, that someone is the at-fault driver’s insurance company. However, in some cases, you may be entitled to collect from your own insurance company.
Becker Law Office can help you to understand what the insurance company owes you after an accident. Our lawyers can also negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf to help you avoid their tactics to harm your compensation. If the insurer won’t reach a full and fair settlement, we can turn your case over to experienced litigators who work with us as part of our unique two-firm approach to handling car accident claims.
You can learn more calling a car accident lawyer for help. We can provide a free consultation and get started on your case right away. Our firm serves clients throughout Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and Indiana.
There are several different kinds of policies that drivers may be required to buy or choose to buy, including:
Each policy provides coverage for different situations. At Becker Law Office, our attorneys will review which policy or policies apply in your car accident claim.
Personal injury protection, or PIP, pays for medical bills and partial lost wages after a car accident regardless of who is at fault for the crash. This is why this coverage is also called “no-fault” coverage. A driver with PIP coverage can make a claim on his own policy to cover medical care costs up to policy limits.
Kentucky is a choice no-fault state. Under Kentucky law, all motor vehicles (except motorcycles) need to be covered by a $10,000 no-fault policy unless the driver expressly opts out of this coverage in writing.
If you do not opt out and carry no-fault coverage, you can sue another motorist who has caused your crash only if:
Your own insurance company will handle your PIP claim. Your recovery will be limited to the policy limits and to the actual financial damages you have incurred. You may choose to buy more than the $10,000 in minimum coverage so you have broader protection in case you cause a wreck that costs you a lot in medical bills and other losses.
If you have opted out of no-fault coverage or bought back your rights to this coverage, you will have to sue the at-fault driver to secure compensation for your losses.
Another option for recovering car accident compensation is to make a claim against a liability insurance policy. This insurance covers losses that a motorist causes to others on the road, including motorists and pedestrians.
When you make a liability insurance claim, you can receive not just full payment for medical bills and actual costs like lost wages but also for pain and suffering. Those who have lost loved ones in a car accident can make a claim to obtain wrongful death damages from a liability insurance policy, which can include payment of medical bills incurred prior to death, funeral expenses, lost financial support and lost companionship.
A claim against a liability insurance company can be resolved by the insurer accepting that its insured is to blame and making a settlement offer to the injured victims. The victims will have the right to reject the offer or to accept and give up their right to sue in exchange for payment. At Becker Law Office, we can handle negotiations with the at-fault driver’s liability insurer. Cases can also be resolved in court.
At Becker Law Office, we offer a unique two-firm approach to handling your auto accident claim. If your case goes to trial, it will be handed over from the experienced attorneys at Becker Law Office who focus on settlement negotiations.
In some cases, you may have a claim against another driver who is responsible for your injuries but that driver may not have any liability insurance or may not have enough insurance to cover all of your losses. If this happens to you, you can make a claim with your own insurer through an uninsured or underinsured motorist policy. These also are called UM/UIM policies.
In these situations, the insurer will cover the costs and losses that the driver who caused your wreck should have covered but didn’t have the money to pay.
Since you are dealing with your own insurance company here, you’ll need to work to negotiate a fair and reasonable payout of your claim, which can be as high as the policy limits, depending upon the extent of your losses. An attorney from Becker Law Office can help you to negotiate a reasonable payout or, if necessary, take legal action against an insurer who won’t pay for your covered damages.
Collision coverage is an optional add-on to your policy. If you have a loan on your car, however, your lender may require you to purchase this type of coverage.
This coverage ensures that if you cause an accident that damages your own vehicle, you can pay for the repair or replacement of your vehicle. Like UM/UIM, you will need to negotiate for a reasonable amount of compensation from your insurer.
With many different types of insurance potentially covering your car accident losses, it is important to have an experienced attorney on your side. The accident lawyers at Becker Law Office have handled car accident claims throughout Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and Indiana. We are ready to deal with the insurance company on your behalf. Give us a call or contact us online today to get started.
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