A Colorado Personal Injury Law Firm
| The Elements of Auto Insurance
Basic vehicle insurance may consist of multiple types of coverage. It is important to know that some of these elements may be mandatory, based on your area of residence, and others may be optional.
o Bodily injury o Property damage
Source: Insure.com |
If you have suffered injuries in a motor vehicle accident, you may have heard any number of confusing terms used to describe insurance coverage. The terminology can be hard to understand, especially if you’re already in pain and you need to invest your energy into recovering your physical health. When you’ve suffered an injury for which insurance coverage may be available, consider speaking with a personal injury attorney who is familiar with insurance policies.
The personal injury attorneys at the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal have thorough knowledge of insurance terminology and the circumstances under which policies are likely to pay for injuries you’ve sustained. We know that insurance can seem like a language all its own, that’s why our Denver personal injury lawyers will sit down with you and explain – in plain language – what insurance terms mean and how coverage may apply in your situation. We know that injuries suffered in auto accidents can leave you unable to work and earn a living for yourself and the loved ones who depend on you. We’ve dedicated our practice to helping injury victims, and our personal injury attorneys have proven themselves to be strong advocates and powerhouse negotiators when dealing with insurance companies.
The portions of vehicle insurance policies that are relevant when you’ve been injured include liability coverage, medical payments or personal injury protection, and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
Liability coverage addresses the physical and property damage caused by a car accident. Sometimes, a state will require minimum levels of coverage to ensure that anyone hurt in an accident will have access to compensation for their injuries. Bodily injury coverage can help pay for accident victims’ medical expenses. It also can help you replace the income you lose because your injuries keep you from working. Liability coverage for property damage can help replace your car or other property destroyed in an accident. It may also pay for the pain and suffering you endure because of your injuries.
Medical payments coverage is the portion of your insurance that will pay for medical care when you or passengers in your car are hurt in an accident. It may also pay when another vehicle hits you. With medical payments coverage, responsibility for the accident that injured you is not relevant, although your insurance company may seek damages from the responsible driver if you were not to blame. PIP, or personal injury protection, is coverage that pays for medical care and replacement of lost wages when injuries affect you or passengers in your vehicle. PIP pays for funeral expenses, as well. A number of states mandate PIP coverage, however Colorado is not among them.
If you’ve been injured by a driver who doesn’t have insurance or whose coverage is inadequate to address the severity of your injuries, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage can pay for your medical expenses. This coverage also can help pay for your medical care if you were injured in a hit-and-run accident and no other insurance is available. Uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage may also provide compensation for your pain and suffering. Twenty states require motorists to carry UM coverage. Again, Colorado does not.
The Colorado personal injury attorneys at the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal know that motor vehicle insurance policies offer a means of compensation when you’ve been injured in a car accident. We can help you understand your legal rights and we can determine the types of coverage available to provide you with help for expensive medical care and lost wages. In addition, we can help you pursue payment for the pain and suffering your injuries have caused. For a complete explanation of auto insurance and accurate advice on its applicability to your situation, call the Denver personal injury lawyers at the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal. If you aren’t able to come to us, we’ll gladly offer you a free initial consultation at your hospital bedside. If you’ve been injured, you need to know your rights.
Contact our Denver Colorado Personal Injury Law Firm at 303-825-2223
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