A quick trip to the grocery store or a drive to work can quickly change an ordinary day into one of confusion and distress if you are in a car wreck. Knowing what to do after an auto accident can reduce your stress and keep your focus on what is most important: yourself and your family. Also, having the right insurance coverage can help make sure that you are paid for your injuries, even if the person who caused the car accident does not have insurance.
After a car wreck, you may need medical treatment for physical and emotional injuries, a vehicle to drive while your vehicle is being repaired, and you may also have problems paying bills if you are unable to work due to your pain. While your main focus should be on recovering from your injuries, you need to make sure that you aren’t allowing a lot of time to pass before you seek compensation for the car crash; there are strict time limits for when you can seek payment for your injuries, and once these time limits pass you will not be able to get compensated for the injuries you have as a result of your car accident. It is important to seek legal advice as soon as possible to protect your rights and understand which benefits are available to you.
So, what if you find out that the person who hit you does not have any insurance coverage? This is where Uninsured Motorist coverage and Underinsured Motorist coverage become important. Insurance policies have different types of motor vehicle coverage that can pay you for your injuries. The main types of insurance coverage are:
- Liability coverage, which pays for damages suffered by others involved in a wreck;
- Medical coverage, or Medical Payment coverage, which is payment for medical bills for treatment that you receive after a collision;
- Property coverage, which helps you pay for the cost of repairs to or loss of your vehicle; and
- Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist insurance, which can help you pay bills and receive payment for the losses you have if the driver that caused the car accident did not have insurance or did not have enough insurance to cover those losses.
Uninsured (UM) and Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage is often the most confusing type of insurance coverage, but it can also be one of the most important types of coverage that you should have. UM or UIM coverage protects you from losses that you suffer that are caused by another person who does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance coverage to cover your injuries and losses. UM or UIM coverage can pay you for your injuries as well as injuries suffered by passengers in your automobile if you are in a car accident caused by an uninsured driver. Also, if you are injured in a hit-and-run accident, your Uninsured Motorist coverage can pay you for the injuries that you suffer. While everyone should have insurance coverage, there are some drivers that do not. So, this type of coverage can help you focus on getting well instead of worrying about what to do because the person who is at fault for the car wreck does not have insurance.
An auto accident attorney can help you understand what coverage is available to you for your damages and injuries. They will help you deal with insurance companies, make sure that your lawsuit is filed in a timely manner, and help you receive compensation for the losses that you have suffered as a result of your wreck. Our team of experienced personal injury lawyers at The Eichholz Law Firm is here to help. Call us now at 855-551-1019.