If you have been hit by an underinsured motorist at a gas station, you have suffered a variety of damages and you might be left wondering who will pay for your damages. You should maintain uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage as part of your auto insurance policy. If you have been hit by a motorist who has the minimum required coverage for their state, they might not have enough to cover the costs your damages exceed those limits. As an example, if an individual has a policy with 25/50/15 coverage, that means the policy will pay $25,000 per person for damages up to $50,000 maximum payout per crash. The maximum property damages paid will be $15,000.
What To Do After Being Hit At A Gas Station
Sometimes gas stations have surveillance cameras on the parking lot, so you will need to check to see if the whole incident might have been caught on video. Exchange insurance specifics, contact details and other necessary information with the other driver. Call the police to determine if they will come out and do an accident report for a crash on private property. Ask any witnesses to provide written statements regarding what they saw. Also, get the names and contact details for any witnesses to the crash at the gas station.
If possible, use your smartphone to get photos of the accident scene. Get pictures from all angles and get photos of the damages. You will get started with a demand letter being sent to the insurance company of the other driver. After that insurance has paid the maximum out, if you still have damages, you will pursue a claim with your uninsured/underinsured motorist policy. This will take up any extra damages that you have up to the maximum payout on your policy. You might experience these kinds of damages if your vehicle is totaled or if you suffer serious injuries, such as a spinal injury, traumatic brain injury, or paralysis. These damages can easily exceed the limits of an auto insurance policy.
Documentation To Support Your Claim
The more documentation and evidence that you can gather to support your claim, the much more likely you are to have a successful personal injury claim. Here are some documents that you should keep for your personal injury claim after being hit by an underinsured motorist at a gas station:
- Medical bills
- Repair estimates
- Proof of lost wages
- Medical records
- Accident scene photos
Consult With A Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been hit by an underinsured motorist at a gas station, you should enlist the help of a personal injury lawyer. An accident injury attorney who is licensed in your state is familiar with the state laws and is much more likely to recoup compensation for your losses. When you enlist the help of an accident injury attorney, you will not pay anything out of pocket. Personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, so you have nothing to lose. Your attorney will not get paid until you win your case. There is a statute of limitations for pursuing a claim, so don’t wait until it is too late to recover damages. Get your free case review today!
