An individual’s involvement in a motor vehicle collision is, at the bare minimum, inconvenient. They have to wait for a police officer to arrive so they can file a report. They may have to make arrangements to repair their vehicle. Crashes can also cause injuries that lead to major medical expenses and leave someone incapable of earning their usual income until they heal.
Most drivers in Connecticut take for granted the idea that they can receive appropriate compensation with a simple insurance claim. After all, Connecticut requires liability coverage and other types of car insurance from all drivers. The unfortunate reality is that many people learn the hard way that car insurance is often inadequate to fully cover the expenses of a crash.
Policy requirements are simply too low
Technically, Connecticut requires more insurance than many other states. Drivers need to have at least $25,000 in property damage coverage. They also need to have at least $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage. That amount doubles if two or more people get hurt in one crash. The state also requires a minimum amount of uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. These extra forms of coverage can help people hurt by those with no insurance or bad coverage.
A trip to the hospital after a car crash could easily produce medical expenses that go beyond the policy limit for someone’s coverage, even when combined with underinsured motorist coverage. No matter how expensive the crash might be, the company insuring the driver at fault only pays at most the policy limits.
People may require more financial support to pay their medical bills and cover likely future medical expenses. They may also need to recover lost income if they are unable to work due to their injuries. Thankfully, the law in Connecticut does allow those negatively affected by a collision to take legal action against the driver at fault for the crash.
They can also potentially hold a third party accountable in certain cases. Defective vehicle components, someone driving while working and a host of other unusual scenarios might mean that a business or other third party has a degree of financial liability for the collision.
Recognizing the limits of car insurance after a Connecticut car crash could help people pursue an appropriate amount of compensation. Drivers who reach out for assistance when evaluating insurance and quantifying their losses can limit the losses they suffer due to a recent wreck.
