When you get into a car accident, it can be challenging to determine who will pay for your damages and injuries. Claims require a fair amount of time and hassle, and some may not be worth the effort. However, if your accident damage is significant, you may have no choice but to file a claim to regain financial stability and return to where you were before the accident. Here are factors to take into account when deciding whether or not to file a claim.
Damage Amount
Damages from an accident can come in numerous forms. The most common are physical property damage and injuries. You can file a claim to get compensated for repairs to your vehicle or property, as well as any medical expenses, including emergency room fees, doctor appointments, physical therapy and medical exams. Other kinds of damages include lost wages. For example, if you are unable to work for a certain amount of time following an accident because of an injury, your claim can cover those wages.
A Source for Compensation
All state laws vary when it comes to car accident claims. Most allow you to get compensated from the other driver’s insurance if they were responsible for the crash, but some have no-fault laws, meaning that you can only make a claim with your own insurance. On top of that, not everyone on the road is insured. An uninsured motorist who hits you may not have the means of paying you for a claim, even if you rightfully win it. Even insured motorists’ coverage may not be enough to cover you, so it is important to check to make sure their insurance makes a claim worth your effort.
Negligence
Finally, the other person must be responsible for the accident. You must have viable proof of this, otherwise it will be difficult to make a claim with their insurance. In some states, if you are found even somewhat responsible for the accident, you may be barred from receiving compensation. Possible proof includes a police report with your statement of what happened, pictures of the accident and eyewitness statements from those who saw it occur. All of these can be used to show that the other driver was actually at fault.
Check your state laws to see how negligence, the statute of limitations and other insurance policies might affect your claim. Contact a car accident lawyer in Indianapolis, IN, like from Ward & Ward Law Firm, if you run into problems as you make your way through the claims process.
