Contrary to what some may believe, personal injury lawsuits do not exist simply as a means for litigious plaintiffs to secure easy cash. Instead, these suits exist so those injured due to someone else’s negligence can obtain adequate compensation.
Damage awards vary based on several factors, including out-of-pocket expenses, economic damages and harder-to-quantify noneconomic damages. An experienced personal injury lawyer can assist in the insurance claims process to help ensure maximum compensation is awarded.
Liability Insurance
Personal injuries from car accidents, medical malpractice or any other cause can cause extensive damages. Compensation awarded in personal injury claims often includes both economic losses (such as medical bills and lost earnings) as well as non-economic ones (pain and suffering and diminished quality of life).
Liability insurance is an integral component of many types of policies. Off-the-shelf personal and business liability policies usually cover Bodily Injury and Property Damage; however, our attorneys can assist in adding personal injury coverage at a small additional premium cost.
Medical expenses can quickly add up, particularly if multiple surgeries or ongoing treatments are necessary for injuries sustained in an accident. Unfortunately, too often people wait or avoid filing claims because they don’t want to inconvenience the at-fault party or are afraid of “seeming like a lawsuit person”. Health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid may be sources of coverage in your claim and will seek reimbursement from any settlement or judgment reached in your favor.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM) or Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM) is a form of car insurance designed to protect drivers when other drivers lack sufficient auto coverage or their liability limits do not cover your expenses. Our New York personal injury lawyers advise drivers with motorbike licenses, in particular, to consider increasing UM/UIM limits so that any accident caused by uninsured or under-insured drivers is covered, particularly given that motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to die and five times more likely to sustain injuries when involved than when riding passenger vehicles – making protection even more critical.
If you are involved in a car accident with an uninsured or under-insured motorist, their Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Policy (UM/UIM) will cover medical bills, property damage, lost wages and any other damages you would otherwise be responsible for paying out–even those caused by hit-and-run drivers who do not possess assets through which to collect compensation.
Medical Payments
If you have health insurance, it may cover many of your accident-related medical expenses. Once this occurs, your insurer can file for subrogation to seek reimbursement from those liable. This process allows them to claim reimbursement through your personal injury case.
Medical expenses may include emergency room services, surgery, hospital charges, imaging and diagnostic tests, physical therapy sessions, prescription medications, follow-up appointments, assistive devices or home health care – not to mention ambulance service and any transportation necessary for seeking care.
PIP and MedPay coverages typically cover some or all medical expenses up to their policy limits in no-fault states like New York; however, filing an injury claim ensures you receive full and fair compensation for your damages; seek legal advice from an experienced personal injury attorney before filing one to protect your rights.
Damages
Dependent upon the nature of their injuries and accidents, victims can receive compensation to cover any associated losses. Payments typically fall into one of two categories: economic or noneconomic damages.
Economic damages are intended to compensate victims for specific financial losses caused by an injury-related absence from work, including medical costs and loss of income due to time lost from work. Noneconomic damages seek to provide compensation for less tangible but still tangible losses like pain and suffering.
Property damage compensation in New York personal injury cases is an integral component of their claim, helping cover the costs to repair or replace injured victims’ belongings.
Liability insurance companies are typically responsible for covering personal injury settlements; however, this won’t happen on a continual basis – rather it may take a portion of your final settlement to cover this obligation. Our attorneys can explain more before signing any release forms to settle your case.
