Sources of Compensation in a Car Accident Case
Following a car accident, there are a few places to look for insurance coverage: your own insurance, the at-fault party’s insurance, and any other person, company or entity that contributed in any way to the accident or your injuries. In this blog post, we will discuss the options available to car accident injury victims looking to recover compensation for their injuries.
Your Own Insurance Provider: Your own car may provide certain insurance, which applies after an accident. This includes personal injury protection benefits, collision coverage, medical payment coverage, death benefits, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Other cars in your household may also provide additional uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Your health insurance may also apply to cover some or all your medical expenses. If you were working at the time of the accident, worker’s compensation may apply. Disability policies may also provide additional benefits. Your own car insurance policy has several insurance provisions that may apply following a car accident. These may include personal injury protection benefits, collision coverage, medical payments, uninsured / underinsured motorist coverage, excess / umbrella uninsured / underinsured motorist coverage, rental reimbursement, and a death benefit.
The Other Driver’s Insurance Provider: When looking for coverage from someone who causes an accident, also known as the at-fault person, there are several insurance provisions that may apply. These most often include bodily injury/liability, property damage, and excess or umbrella coverage. The vehicle owner in Florida, and many other states, is considered primary for bodily injury and property damage coverage. Even though the owner may have had nothing to do with the actual accident, they may still be responsible for all damage and injury caused by their car. The at-fault party may provide bodily injury coverage and liability coverage. If the owner of that vehicle was different from the driver, there may be an additional policy of insurance through the driver directly. In addition, if the at-fault driver was within the course and scope of his or her employment at the time of the accident, or if the vehicle was owned by a company, that employer or company may also provide additional bodily injury/liability coverage or property damage coverage.
Other Avenues of Recovery: There are other possible avenues of recovery an injury victim may pursue. Some include claims against car manufacturers for product defects or crashworthiness issues, claims against body shops or repair companies, and claims through the crime compensation trust fund. After a car accident, there may be several other avenues to look for insurance coverage or assets, aside from your own insurance and the insurance policies of the at-fault driver and / or owner. These include dram shop liability coverage in the case of a drunk driving crash, crime victim compensation, restitution, homeowner negligence, product liability claims, and repair shop negligence.
Speak with a Miami Car Accident Lawyer Today!
At Suarez & Montero, our team of car accident attorneys in Miami will work with you every step of the way, offering the expert legal guidance you need to win your lawsuit. If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit against any responsible parties. Depending on the situation, the driver, owner, or manufacturer could be liable. Our legal team of Miami car accident lawyers have decades of experience handling car accident cases. With an extensive understanding of the laws involved, we can make sure you’re fully compensated for any medical bills, pain and suffering and other damages you may have experienced. Unlike other firms that handle cases in other areas of law in addition to their personal injury section, our firm is 100% dedicated to helping victims in personal injury cases and has been doing so for over 20 years. If you or someone you love has been involved in an accident, contact us today for a free consultation.
We serve clients throughout Florida including those in the following areas:
Miami- Dade: Aventura, Coral Gables, Doral, Fontainebleau, Hialeah, Homestead, Kendall, Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Lakes, North Miami, Tamiami, and Westchester.
Broward: Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, and Weston; and Palm Beach County including Boca Raton, Lake Worth, and West Palm Beach.
