Who Pays to Get my Car Fixed After I Have Been Hit in an Accident?
The party responsible for paying for your repair bill after an accident can vary. While insurance companies typically cover most of the costs of an accident, determining which insurance company is responsible is important. If you are forced to recover benefits through your own policy, you could find yourself facing steep premium increases in the near future.
In cases where there is no insurance coverage for a crash, you could find yourself trying to obtain compensation directly from an uninsured motorist. These claims are especially challenging without skilled legal counsel by your side. The assistance of dedicated Los Angeles car accident lawyers can make all the difference in ensuring you obtain the compensation you deserve.
When the other driver’s insurance pays
When you are injured in an accident through no fault of your own, the best-case scenario is recovering compensation for your property damages from the other driver’s insurance company. When the at-fault driver has adequate liability coverage, their insurer will typically pay for the cost of your repairs.
That being said, there is no guarantee the other driver’s insurer will cover your losses. To ensure you get the compensation you deserve, you must establish that the other driver was at fault for the accident. This requires demonstrating that they acted negligently when they caused the accident. A strong case for negligence could push the other insurance company to pay up.
When your insurance pays
Sometimes, your own insurance company will pay for your repairs. That depends entirely on the type of insurance coverage you have. If you only carry liability coverage, your insurer has no obligation to pay your damages given that liability insurance covers third-party claims.
Other types of policies will cover your losses, though. If you have comprehensive coverage, your insurance policy will not only pay out on third-party liability claims but also your own damages in an accident.
Additionally, you could be entitled to benefits through an uninsured motorist (UIM) policy. UIM coverage exists to pay your damages from an accident with an uninsured motorist. If the other driver in the crash does not have insurance, your UIM coverage could pay your repair bills. Additionally, an accident with a driver that has inadequate liability insurance is another situation where UIM coverage could fill in the gaps.
Identifying the right insurance policy to file a claim can be complicated, especially when there are multiple policies in effect at once. Making this determination without the guidance of an experienced lawyer is especially challenging. Let a car accident lawyer assist you in the claims process from start to finish.
When the other driver pays
In some situations, there will not be any available insurance coverage for your property damage claim. Not every driver has comprehensive or UIM coverage. When these drivers collide with uninsured motorists, they will not have an insurance company to rely on.
When this happens, the only option for obtaining compensation for your losses is by filing a lawsuit directly against the other driver. The problem with this approach is that most drivers that lack liability insurance typically do not have the assets necessary to pay down a property damage claim.
That does not mean it is not worth it to pursue your case against the at-fault driver. The right car accident attorneys can help you seek out potential assets owned by the defendant that could be sold to pay for your repairs.
How an attorney can help you get the compensation you need
The attorneys of Ellis Injury Law can help you identify potential sources of compensation for your property damage claims. We will thoroughly investigate every aspect of your case and advise you on your chances of success. To learn more, schedule a free consultation with Ellis Injury Law right away.