Under Ohio law, drivers are required to have liability insurance. This insurance covers other people’s losses that the driver causes. Yet, some people do not purchase enough coverage or may not purchase any insurance at all. They still get behind the wheel to drive a vehicle, putting others at risk. When devastation occurs and an accident causes serious injury and damage to another person, those victims have to turn to their own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Do you know what your rights are with this coverage? Here’s what you need to know about Ohio uninsured motorist coverage in Washington Court House, Ohio, and the surrounding areas.
What is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Under Ohio law, all vehicle owners are required to carry insurance. This includes at least $25,000 per incident in uninsured motorist property damage and $25,000 per person and up to $50,000 per incident of underinsured motorist bodily injury. That’s on top of general liability insurance requirements.
Ohio uninsured motorist coverage helps to cover the driver should another person cause an accident and not have coverage. Here’s a scenario.
Driver A does not have car insurance but caused Driver B’s accident to lead to medical bills and property damage. In this case, Driver B’s own uninsured motorist coverage is supposed to provide financial compensation to Driver B for the losses Driver A caused, up to the policy limits.
Why Do You Need an Attorney When Filing a Claim?
When it comes to filing a claim for uninsured motorist coverage, it is important to recognize what is occurring. The insurance company wants to minimize how much money they pay out to you. They will try to reduce the compensation paid or try to get you to settle the case quickly as a way to reduce additional claims you make.
As devastating as an accident like this is, it is made worse when your insurance company makes it difficult for you to get the compensation owed to you. Yet, our attorneys at Kruger & Hodges have seen this happen many times. That’s why we will aggressively work to protect your rights. Allow our team in Washington Court House, Ohio, to work to protect your rights.
How Can an Attorney Help You With Ohio Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Our legal team is dedicated to helping you get the compensation owed to you after an accident like this. We can help you in several ways:
Determine who is responsible for your losses
A solid starting point is to determine who should pay for the losses you have incurred. Ohio law allows victims to pursue financial compensation for losses from the responsible party. That could be your own insurance company when it comes to uninsured motorist coverage.
In addition to this, it may be necessary and possible to seek out financial compensation from the driver that caused your losses. It may be possible to seek liquidation of their assets or take other legal steps. The key here is understanding that you have the right to pursue compensation.
Find out what your losses are
In addition to this, our team will work closely with you to determine what financial losses you’ve faced as a result of another person’s actions. This is often a comprehensive process that looks at all ways the accident impacted you and your family. Some examples of the types of losses you may experience after a vehicle accident include:
Emergency medical care: Trips to the emergency room, life-saving medical care, and initial hospital stays can be very expensive.
Specialist care: Surgical procedures, for example, are not uncommon after a devastating accident and require the care of a specialist.
Rehabilitation: If you suffered a significant injury or a long recovery time, rehabilitation may be needed. Our team will work to determine if this is your need and, if so, how long you may need care.
Medications and ongoing care: Many times, an accident can cause ongoing medical losses and complications, not just an initial stay in the hospital. This could mean ongoing medical needs.
Pain and suffering: A simple car accident can cause traumatic injuries that cause a significant amount of pain. Some people develop chronic pain that limits their quality of life.
Post-traumatic stress disorder: You may develop mental health challenges after an accident like this due in part to what you’ve experienced.
If your loved one lost their life in an accident like this, you might be entitled to compensation if you were their dependent. In a case like this, it is critical to have access to an attorney who can help you pursue the compensation owed to you.
Other losses may include lost time at work, the inability to work, mobility losses, and quality of life changes. All of this and much more can be financially devastating. Our attorneys will work closely with you to guide you in recovering your losses.
How to Choose a Car Accident Attorney
Even if your accident did not result in the loss of life or other complications, you might still be suffering financially due to another person’s actions. Allow our attorneys to represent you in a court of law.
Choose an attorney you feel comfortable with that has ample experience working with Ohio uninsured motorist coverage cases. You want to be sure that there’s clear insight into what your options are. Our legal team is here to support you in Washington Court House, Ohio.
How Kruger & Hodges Can Help You
Your first step is to contact our motorist accident attorneys in Washington Court House, Ohio. Let us provide you with a free consultation to discuss your case with you. Let us know what occurred and why you believe you are owed additional compensation.
If you decide to work with us, our team will go to work to defend you aggressively in a court of law. We are compassionate professionals who are committed to your best outcome. Reach out to us now for a free consultation to discuss your case.