Liability insurance is a crucial safeguard that offers financial coverage if you are deemed responsible for a car accident, addressing damages or injuries you might cause to others. This type of insurance, however, does not extend to covering your damages if you are not to blame for the accident.
In almost every state across the U.S., carrying car insurance is a mandatory legal requirement for drivers. The specific requirements regarding the types and amounts of insurance coverage differ from one state to another.
For coverage that protects you directly, such as when you’re not at fault, you would need to look into other forms of insurance like collision or comprehensive insurance. Recognizing the differences between these insurance types is essential for ensuring you’re properly protected while driving.
If you encounter difficulties in securing the damages you’re due to following an accident in the USA, getting the counsel of a car accident attorney can be immensely helpful. Firms such as the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm focus on helping drivers through the difficult process of recovering well after car accidents by offering expert legal counsel and support to make the recovery procedure easier.
What to Do if You Have Liability Insurance and You Hit Someone?
If you’re involved in a car accident and you’re found to be at fault, but you only have liability insurance, here’s what you need to know:
Liability insurance covers repairs or replacement costs for the other driver’s vehicle, subject to your policy limits if you’re at fault in an accident. However, it doesn’t cover repairs to your car.
Should you find yourself in such a situation, follow these steps immediately after the accident:
- Stop and Assess for Injuries: Safely stop your vehicle and check if anyone is injured. Call emergency services immediately if there are any injuries.
- Exchange Information: Swap contact and insurance details with the other driver(s) and any witnesses. This includes names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance company names, and policy numbers.
- Report the Accident: Notify your insurance company about the accident immediately. Include any injuries, vehicle damage, and the accident’s circumstances when providing details. It’s important to be truthful but avoid admitting fault at the scene; let the insurance investigators determine fault based on the facts.
- Collaborate with Your Insurance Provider: Your insurer will investigate to determine the fault. Cooperating fully with this process and providing any requested information or documentation is crucial.
- Understand Your Responsibilities: If your liability insurance covers the accident, you might need to pay a deductible before your insurer pays for the other party’s damages.
It’s important to note that if the cost of damages exceeds your policy’s coverage limits, you could be personally responsible for the difference. To avoid such situations, ensure adequate coverage that aligns with your financial situation and risk exposure.
Get Legal Advice With the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm
In legal terms, “liability” pertains to your responsibility for the damages incurred by another individual if you are at fault in an accident. If you caused the accident, your liability insurance is designed to cover the other party’s medical and vehicle repair expenses.
However, it does not cover your medical or property damages.
Different types of insurance policies are available for your damages, but they are optional and not mandatory, like liability insurance, meaning not everyone may have them. In situations where the other driver is at fault, their liability insurance should compensate for your damages accordingly.
It can be challenging to cope with following the events of an accident, particularly if you are having trouble getting insurance to cover your costs. Insurance companies sometimes refuse to pay claims, frequently explaining why they might not be covered.
Due to the tragedy, many people may be left in a difficult situation due to not knowing how to handle their financial commitments. Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer can be very helpful in these situations.
Ali Awad, the owner of CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, ensures insurance companies honor their payout responsibilities. He established the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, which has rapidly become one of the most swiftly expanding law firms nationwide.
In addition to practicing law, Mr. Awad shares his knowledge with his more than one million social media followers and provides insightful legal analysis. The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm offers free case reviews to people struggling to pay unpaid medical bills from accidents to help victims get the compensation they are entitled to.
What Does Liability Insurance Cover?
Liability insurance for automobiles is designed to protect you financially by covering the expenses related to defending or settling claims if you’re involved in a car accident for which you’re held responsible. This insurance is divided into two primary categories:
- Bodily Injury Liability Insurance: This coverage is activated when you cause an accident in which others are injured. It helps cover the costs associated with the injuries you’ve inflicted on others, ranging from immediate medical treatments and emergency services to compensation for lost wages and ongoing healthcare requirements.
- Property Damage Liability Insurance: This form of coverage comes into play when you’re responsible for an accident that damages someone else’s property. While vehicle repairs are the most common claim, this insurance also covers damage to other property types, such as buildings, fences, and any other structures your vehicle might damage during the accident.
What Is Covered by Liability Auto Insurance? What Is Not Covered by It?
Liability car insurance primarily covers the property damage and medical expenses of other drivers and passengers if you’re found at fault for a car accident. Most states mandate this type of insurance to ensure that those responsible for causing accidents can provide at least some compensation for the damages and injuries incurred by the victims.
Covered by Liability Insurance:
- Property Damage: This includes the cost to repair or replace the other party’s vehicle and any other property damaged due to the accident you caused.
- Medical Expenses: If the accident results in injuries to the other driver or passengers, liability insurance covers medical costs such as ambulance fees, hospital visits, surgeries, and necessary medical treatments.
- Rehabilitation Costs: Ongoing medical care, including physical therapy or any rehabilitation services required due to the accident, are covered.
- Lost Wages: If the injured parties cannot work because of their injuries, liability insurance may compensate for their lost income.
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the pain and distress caused by the injuries from the accident.
- Legal Defense Costs: If you’re sued after the accident, your liability insurance might cover your legal fees.
- Funeral Expenses: In cases where the accident leads to fatalities, liability insurance may cover funeral costs.
Not Covered by Liability Insurance:
- Your Vehicle Damage: Liability insurance does not cover the repair or replacement of your vehicle if you’re at fault. For that, you would need collision coverage.
- Your Medical Expenses: It does not cover medical expenses after an accident. For this, you would need personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payment coverage.
- Intentional Damage: Any damage caused by actions you take intentionally, aiming to harm another person or property, is not covered.
- Punitive Damages: In some cases, if you’re sued, the court may award punitive damages to the other party as a form of punishment. These are generally not covered by liability insurance.
- Exceeding Policy Limits: Liability insurance will only pay up to the limits of your policy. You are responsible for paying the difference if the damages or costs exceed this amount.
It’s important to choose the right limits for your liability insurance to protect yourself financially, but remember, it does not cover damages to your property or injuries to yourself if you’re at fault in an accident.
When Should I Proceed With Legal Action?
Deciding to take legal action after an accident can be daunting, yet ensuring you receive adequate compensation for any damages or injuries is crucial. Here are situations when moving forward with legal action is advisable:
- Bodily Injury: If you’ve incurred injuries requiring medical attention, like fractures, spinal injuries, or head trauma.
- Lost Wages: If your injuries have led to missed workdays, resulting in lost income or benefits.
- Property Damage: If your vehicle or personal property has been damaged or totaled.
- Pain and Suffering: If the accident has caused you emotional or psychological pain.
- Wrongful Death: If the accident resulted in the tragic loss of a loved one due to the negligence of an uninsured driver.
Even if the at-fault driver possesses insurance, legal action might still be necessary if their coverage falls short of your losses.
Negotiating compensation with insurance providers can be complicated. Having legal counsel can help reduce this burden considerably.
A knowledgeable car accident lawyer can help you through the procedure, defending your rights and fighting for the full amount of money you are entitled to.
With the assistance of a committed legal team like the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, managing these tricky situations can be highly beneficial. Our experience with New York car accident cases can assure you the support you need to seek the compensation and justice you are due.
Call the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm for the Right Approach!
It’s universally acknowledged truth: February brings the gloom, white pants are magnets for spills, and the road is full of surprises. While the first two can be managed with a SAD lamp and a trusty stain remover, navigating the unpredictability of other drivers requires a strong car insurance policy.
If you need more clarification on whether your current car insurance is up to the task, it’s time for a review. Examine your policy closely, and contact our attorney to explore your coverage options.
We work on a contingency basis, so if we take your case, you won’t owe us anything until we successfully conclude your case. Visit online to see how much your case is worth, or call the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm in New York to get started on your case.
