Sometimes car accidents occur without contact. These are referred to as non-contact car accidents. If you have been involved in a non-contact car accident with an underinsured motorist, you are probably concerned about getting compensated for your damages.
A non-contact car accident might involve a car crossing the center line and running you off the road, causing you to crash into a utility pole and suffer serious injuries.
Or, it might involve a car swerving toward you, causing you to act defensively and crash into another vehicle. Either way, the non-contact vehicle caused the crash and is liable for the damages.
Insurance Coverage
While most states require drivers to maintain insurance coverage in order to operate a vehicle on the roads, they have specified minimum coverage amounts.
If a driver has the minimum coverage, it might not be enough to cover the damages that are caused by the crash. While states require insurance coverage, often the minimal coverage amounts aren’t enough to cover the costs of the damages that a wreck can cause. For example, some states only require a driver to maintain 25/50/15 coverage.
That means that the policy has coverage up to $25,000 per person for personal injury and up to $50,000 total pay out for personal injuries.
If you have suffered serious injuries, such as a back injury, your medical expenses might quickly exceed the maximum $25,000 payout. A newer vehicle, or a higher-end car could easily be worth more than $15,000 if it is totaled.
For example, if you were driving a BMW, Land Rover, or a Cadillac and it was totaled, the $15,000 property damage coverage might not be enough to cover the value of your vehicle. If either is the case, and the underinsured motorist’s coverage has been maxed out, you will have to notify your own auto insurance carrier that you wish to file a claim against your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is designed to cover the costs of damages you suffer if the other driver – the one who causes the crash – doesn’t have enough insurance to cover the costs of your damages.
This insurance coverage is designed to protect you and to help you pay for the damages that you suffer in the crash, even if the other driver was to blame for the accident that resulted. It is important to make sure you have the extra coverage because you never know when you could be involved in a crash with an underinsured motorist.
Consult With A Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been in a non-contact accident with an underinsured motorist, you should enlist the help of a personal injury lawyer who is licensed in your state.
With the help of an accident injury lawyer, you are much more likely to recover compensation for the damages you suffered. Personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, so you have no upfront costs and no out of pocket expense. Schedule your free case review today.
