AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS

In an instant your life can be changed forever. While you are at the hospital following an automobile collision, in addition to being in pain, you wonder if the insurance company is going to accept responsibility. What about the bills?

Unfortunately, in most cases the insurance company for the other driver will not make payments to you while you are recovering. Whether they ultimately pay will depend on whether you can prove their driver was at fault. This means you will likely need witnesses. It is important that all witnesses are located and you learn what they have to say. You might need experts. Accident reconstructionists can sometimes help solve the puzzle of what happened and who was at fault.

WHAT CAN YOU RECOVER?

If you are injured in an automobile accident, you are entitled to recover monetary damages for the following, if they are caused by the accident:

MEDICAL EXPENSES
LOST WAGES
FUTURE MEDICAL EXPENSES
FUTURE LOST WAGES
PAIN AND SUFFERING
DISFIGUREMENT
DISABILITY

How much is paid will depend on how badly you are hurt and how much insurance coverage there is. In North Carolina, a person is only required to have $30,000 of liability insurance – not much at all considering how expensive medical treatment is today. Thus, most people should have more insurance than the bare minimum. If you do have liability insurance you probably also have Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists insurance that may provide more coverage. Thus, even if you are not at fault, if the damages are more than the amount of insurance the other driver has, your insurance company will pay for your injuries- up to the amount of your insurance.