Car accidents are expensive, and injured people often wonder if car insurance will cover their personal injury claim.
The reality is that the required minimum for liability insurance coverage in Louisiana is not likely to cover the full cost of a serious injury.
People need to know their full range of options for obtaining compensation for medical expenses.
Louisiana law requires at least 15/30/25 liability insurance coverage for each vehicle a person owns.
The required insurance coverage breaks down like this:
- Payment of up to $15,000 for bodily injury to one person
- Payment of up $30,000 for bodily injury to more than one person in a single vehicle
- Payment of up to $25,000 for property damage
Of course, vehicle owners can purchase more than the minimum coverage, but that is not what most people do.
Considering that the potential cost of a single hospital visit can easily exceed more than $15,000, you would not be the first accident victim to be worried about medical expenses. In many crashes, the at-fault driver’s insurance policy comes nowhere close to covering the medical costs resulting from the collision, not to mention the property damage.
Does your car insurance cover personal injury claims? That depends. Do you have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage?
This kind of insurance coverage is designed to cover costs that another driver’s coverage doesn’t. However, some people are not even aware that uninsured or underinsured coverage has been added to their policy. Often an experienced personal injury attorney is needed to review the policy, interpret it, and help the victim get the full amount of compensation available.
In any case, it is best not to take on the insurance company alone. Talk to a lawyer before agreeing to the insurance company’s initial settlement offer.
Accident victims generally don’t think of themselves as “lawsuit people,” but a lawsuit may be the only way to get the compensation you need and deserve.
You are not alone if the idea of filing a lawsuit makes you feel uneasy. However, big insurance companies have skilled lawyers on their side, so it’s important to have a skilled lawyer on your side, too. Insurance companies are in business to make money — and not necessarily to pay out what they owe to good people who are suffering after a wreck.
In terms of getting the compensation you need for medical bills after an accident, the goal is simple: to do what is fair. Sometimes, to do that, it is necessary to take the insurance company to court. At the very least, preparing your case for trial is the best way to position you to receive the maximum available compensation.
If you’ve been injured, we are here to help. Contact an experienced Lake Charles car accident lawyer today.