Is Insurance Coverage Important in a Personal Injury Case?
Insurance is critical in personal injury cases. Insurance policies cover potential liabilities for individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and government entities. If the party responsible for your injury lacks insurance, they may not have the resources to fairly compensate you for the harm you suffered.
The Hicks Law Firm has assisted many injured plaintiffs in California and Tennessee recover millions of dollars in damages, thanks partly to the insurance coverage owned by parties responsible for accidents and injuries. If you have concerns about an injury and whether insurance may cover it, call (949) 541-9944 or fill out our online contact form so we may discuss your case.
Modern personal injury law wouldn’t exist without insurance. We complain about insurance companies, and they complain about plaintiffs’ attorneys, but for many reasons neither of us would be here without the other.
What Does Insurance Do?
Individuals and businesses have insurance coverage because they want the protection or are legally required to purchase it. Liability coverage generally involves possible losses a party may suffer because a mistake or their negligence harms another party. They may face a potential financial loss if an injured party sues them.
Policyholders want to avoid these possible costs, so they pay premiums to an insurance company to cover losses and provide them with a legal defense. These policies limit how much they’ll pay and exclusions on what kind of liabilities they’ll cover (like intentional or criminal acts).
If you own a vehicle, a business, a home, or rent an apartment, there’s a good chance you have liability coverage through an insurance policy. An auto policy should prevent you from substantial financial losses if you cause an accident. Insurance may also protect you if someone you invite to your house or apartment is injured because you allowed a dangerous condition in your home.
What Would a Personal Injury Case Be Like Without Insurance?
Nearly all our cases involve negligent parties who have liability coverage. A party without insurance would need substantial assets that could be reached through legal action before we’d agree to take the case. There’s little reason to start a case if they lack enough assets to compensate the client. A party may also seek bankruptcy protection to protect their assets, which may or may not be successful.
If the injury is severe and disabling, without compensation from a liability carrier, the result can be an accident victim will be driven into poverty. Government assistance programs may keep the person alive and housed if they can’t work and support themselves.
If the injury isn’t as bad and the victim can still work, it may result in wage losses and substantial medical bills. These people often declare bankruptcy because their financial situation becomes untenable.
How Does Insurance Protect Me If I’m Injured in an Accident?
If you’re in a vehicle and injured in an accident, the responsible party’s insurer should cover the harm you suffer. We would file a claim with that insurance company. If they don’t want to reach a reasonable settlement, we can file a lawsuit against their insured. The insurance company would pay for their attorney and a jury verdict against the defendant (up to the policy limits).
If you’re a hit-and-run victim, the other party lacks insurance or doesn’t have enough coverage for your damages, you can turn to your policy’s uninsured/underinsured coverage. It’s not required, but you should purchase this extra protection for these situations. In other cases, like a premises liability claim, you must rely on insurance carried by the premises’ owner or renter.
Whether or not the party causing the accident is insured, your medical insurance can help cover your bills, and if you become disabled, private disability insurance and or Social Security Disability Insurance can partially replace your income.
Our Personal Injury Attorneys Help Accident Victims Get the Compensation They Deserve
If you’re injured because of another party’s negligence and have questions about insurance and how it may cover you, contact a skilled and reputable personal injury accident attorney at Hicks Law Firm. Our firm is built on experience, professionalism, skill, compassion, and trust. Call us today at (949) 541-9944 or fill out a contact form, and we will happily schedule a complimentary consultation.
Aaron Hicks is a civil trial attorney and founder of Hicks Law Firm, based in Orange County with offices in San Diego and Tennessee. His practice includes representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases including motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, dog bites and wrongful death. Mr. Hicks is and AV Rated attorney, Super Lawyer and is currently on the Board of Directors of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association where he serves as 1st Vice President.
