Car Accident Lawyer Serving Victims of Automobile Crashes in the San Fransisco Bay and Burlingame Areas
Car accident lawyer, Jacob Shapiro, Esq. of Shapiro Legal Group has represented over a thousand people injured in automobile accidents. One commonality is how few people know what their insurance policy covers. They know whether they have insurance but they don't know what they have. Then when they are involved in an accident, and especially when they are injured in an automobile accident, they don't know if their policy applies. In fact, a sizeable minority have a strong aversion to making a claim with their own policy. After all it is the other driver's fault so why should my insurance company have to pay anything.
By law you are required to have bodily injury and property damage liability insurance. This is what most of your premium dollars goes towards. Because this is mandatory everyone gets it. This coverage provides compensation to the other party, and pays for your defense, when you are at fault. It doesn't help you with your injuries. It is unfortunate that most people do not consider the types of coverage which help you, your passengers, and your family when injured in a car accident.
Two coverages which help you are a medical payment provision and uninsured motorist protection. A medical payment provision covers you and your blood relatives living in your household for medical expenses for injuries caused by a car accident. This could be as a driver, passenger, bicyclist, or pedestrian. Uninsured motorist, or UM, covers the same class of people for bodily injury claims when injured by a driver without insurance. If purchased in larger than minimal amounts, this could also provide Underinsured motorist protection. It provides coverage if the person at fault does not have enough insurance. After the policy maximum is obtained, if there are additional uncompensated damages then a claim can be made using underinsured motorist protection.
You should definitely consider purchasing these coverages as they are relatively inexpensive and can be very helpful. If you are injured in a car accident they may provide your only realistic avenue for recovery. You should still hire an attorney if the damages are significant. If you have a question as to whether you have a claim on your policy when injured in a car accident you can call Shapiro Legal Group for a free consultation.