Is Auto Insurance Enough? Learning More About Personal Injury Claims

Many people are a bit confused about how their compensation is paid when they are in an accident. In most cases, if both drivers have coverage, the at-fault driver's insurance carrier will pay you for certain expenses, but that coverage is extremely limited. To learn what insurance is good for and where it comes up short, read on.

Insurance Pays

The repair or replacement of your wrecked vehicle is pretty much assured, as long as the other driver had adequate insurance. The other major insurance perk is full payment of your medical bills related to the accident, as long as nothing extraordinary was done. For example, insurance will likely cover the ambulance trip to the hospital and your medical bills. If you had to be airlifted to the nearest trauma center by helicopter, however, it may not be covered. In most cases, these actions are nearly automatic, and you can be back on the road and healed from your injuries in no time. The problems occur when your injuries are more severe.

Insurance Comes Up Short

The more severe your injuries, the more likely you are to need compensation for your pain and suffering. When your medical bills shoot into the stratosphere, you are likely eligible to be compensated for the way the accident has affected your life in general, known as pain and suffering. The dollar amount of your pain and suffering is linked directly to the dollar amount of your medical bills, so be sure to keep careful records of all of your treatments and the amount paid (even if the money did not come from your own pocket). Additionally, you must file a personal injury claim to be compensated for the following:

Lost wages 

The more severe the injuries, the greater amount of time you will be absent from work. Soon, your budget will begin to feel the pinch of those missed paychecks. Only a personal injury suit gives you the opportunity to be paid back for that time missed working. You may need to provide pay stubs or income tax returns to show how much you are owned. As a side note, be sure you get reimbursed for any paid time off, such as sick leave or vacation time as well; you should not need to use those job perks because of the actions of a careless driver.

Speak to a personal injury attorney office like Monohan & Blankenship as soon as possible and don't let too much time pass before you pursue the full amount of compensation you are entitled to receive.