Automobile insurance is a contract between the insurance company and a driver that protects motorists against financial losses if they are in a car accident. However, if you were injured in one of these crashes, you may not know what this insurance can mean for you, how it can help pay for your injuries and damages, and the steps you need to take to obtain the money you need. This can create extra stress if you suffered significant injuries in a collision.
For these reasons, to help clear up some of these questions and concerns, we have prepared a guide to better help you understand the options you have when it comes to insurance coverage. Specifically, in the below post, we will go over everything you need to know about bodily injury claim coverage, what it is, and what other legal options you have when this coverage is not enough. For more information, contact a personal injury attorney for a consultation today.
What Is a Bodily Injury?
A bodily injury refers to any tangible, physical damage caused to a person’s body.
Examples of bodily injuries could include:
- Internal injuries
- Head injuries
- Broken bones
- Cuts, bruises, burns, lacerations, and abrasions
- Disfigurement
- Impairment of the function of a bodily member or organ
- Physical pain
- Illness
- Death
A bodily injury includes any injury to the body, no matter how temporary. As a result, individuals who suffer one of these injuries in a motor vehicle collision due to another individual’s wrongdoings may be able to recover compensation for their damages, either through insurance policies or from the at-fault party.
That is why you should reach out to an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible. These lawyers can help you determine what legal recourse options you have and what you need to do to secure maximum compensation.
Required Bodily Injury Liability Coverage
In Pennsylvania, if an individual injures another person in a car accident, bodily injury liability coverage helps pay the victim’s medical and rehabilitation expenses as well as certain other damages.
The minimum coverage the state requires for bodily injury liability includes:
- $15,000 to pay for injuries to one individual
- $30,000 per accident
Unfortunately, if you suffered injuries following a car accident, this coverage will not always cover all of your injuries and trauma, especially if you sustained a serious bodily injury. That is why, before you proceed with an insurance claim, reach out to a skilled and knowledgeable car accident attorney. Your lawyer can go over your accident, help you understand all of your legal options, and figure out the best way to secure the financial recovery you deserve.
What Is Covered Under Bodily Injury Coverage?
Typically, the type of expenses covered under a bodily injury liability policy include:
- Medical Bills: These medical bills can include costs related to a victim’s hospitalization, follow-up care, and other related medical or health care costs due to the accident.
- Lost wages: If an individual is seriously injured and cannot work, the bodily injury liability coverage makes up their lost income. This amount is often based on the amount of time the individual cannot work due to the injury.
- Funeral Costs: This coverage also pays for costs associated with burial and funeral expenses if someone dies in the accident.
Can You Sue the Liable Party Beyond the Bodily Injury Coverage?
If bodily injury coverage will pay for your injuries, you can collect what you can from the insurance company. However, depending on the circumstances of the accident, this coverage may not cover all of your damages and bills. Consequently, in these instances, you may have the option to pursue legal action against the wrongful party and personally sue them for the losses and injuries you sustained.
However, filing a lawsuit against another person with insufficient insurance coverage will not always succeed, especially when the person you sue does not have enough income or assets to pay for the rest of your damages. For these reasons, following an accident, you should reach out to a motor vehicle accident lawyer as soon as possible. These lawyers can review your needs after a car accident and determine if the at-fault party has enough money at their disposal to make a personal injury lawsuit worth the expenses and time to pursue.
How Can an Experienced Car Accident Attorney Help You Get the Compensation You Deserve?
If a motor vehicle accident injured you, you are already dealing with enough. The last thing you want to worry about is how you can take on the insurance company to get the money you need. Fortunately, with an experienced car accident lawyer on your side, you will not have to worry about handling this legal fight on your own. Instead, these attorneys are here and ready to fight for your rights and go after the damages you deserve.
For instance, once you retain these legal professionals, they can:
- Evaluate your claim, determine if you have a viable case, and figure out what legal options you should pursue.
- Investigate the incident and gather the evidence to prove what happened and who was at fault.
- Hire experts, including accident reconstructionist, to validate your claim.
- Represent you when you file a bodily injury liability claim and assist you with the documentation required.
- Handle all the negotiations with the insurance company and fight for a fair claim settlement.
- Proceed to trial if the other side is unwilling to provide you with the money you need, and fight for the maximum compensation you require.
If a car accident harmed you or a loved one, do not wait to retain the legal help you need. Instead, contact an experienced car accident attorney today for your free case consultation. Let a car accident attorney show you how they can help you with your bodily injury claim and recover all the financial damages you deserve.