The National Safety Council reported in 2015 that the average cost of a car accident where a person sustains a serious injury totaled to around $90,000. Furthermore, the average cost of an accident that resulted in death was around $1,500,000. For many people, these expenses are too much to bear on their own, and they will often turn to insurance to pay most or all of their medical expenses. However, the Insurance Information Institute estimates that 16.7 percent of all drivers in Indiana do not carry the proper insurance. When an uninsured driver is involved in an accident, injured individuals are often left wondering how they will pay their bills. Fortunately, injured drivers can file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation for their injuries and losses.
If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident with an uninsured driver, a Chesterton uninsured car accident lawyer may be able to help you recover compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit. Depending on the circumstances, an experienced car collision attorney could alternatively or additionally help you secure compensation from your own insurance company.
All drivers in Indiana are expected to carry a certain amount of insurance when they are behind the wheel. More specifically, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles requires all motorists to carry 25/50/25 minimum liability insurance.
This breaks down to include $25,000 for bodily injury or the death of one person, $50,000 for bodily injury or death of up to two people, and $25,000 for property damage. In addition, a Chesterton driver’s minimum amount of car insurance should also cover at least $10,000 for property damage, as per Indiana Code §9-25-4. Indiana law also requires drivers to provide proof of financial responsibility, most notably after an accident. For more information about insurance requirements, contact a Chesterton uninsured car accident lawyer.
Despite state laws requiring that they carry insurance, many drivers in the State of Indiana fail to adhere to this regulation or do not carry the proper amount of insurance. In these cases, a Chesterton uninsured car accident attorney could help an injured motorist pursue compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit premised on negligence.
Unlike many other states, Indiana is a fault state when it comes to car wrecks, which means someone injured in an accident could sue the liable party’s insurance company for damages before utilizing their own insurance. In situations where the liable party has no insurance, though, a personal injury lawsuit could allow an injured motorist to recover compensation for medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering directly from the liable party.
Uninsured motorist coverage is a type of insurance coverage that could provide injured drivers and passengers for coverage if they are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver. If an insurance company disputes a claim filed under this coverage, a seasoned attorney in Chesterton could work with a plaintiff to demonstrate that:
If you suffered an injury in an accident with an uninsured driver, you may still have a right to compensation. A Chesterton uninsured car accident lawyer could meet with you to discuss your case and explore your options. Based on that analysis, your attorney could help pursue compensation from uninsured drivers and work with your own insurance company to secure benefits for your injuries. Call today to get started.