Some drivers erroneously believe that hiring a lawyer is unnecessary if they already have full coverage insurance. However, in the event of an automobile accident full coverage might not be enough, and many drivers don’t fully understand what full coverage means.
Full coverage policies will cover those who get into an automobile collision, but it may not be enough to pay for all the personal injuries you sustained. Remember that the cost of healthcare in the U.S. has skyrocketed over the last few years, so even your insurance and the liability insurance of the driver that hit you might not compensate for all of the injuries. With full coverage, you’ll be given a minimum amount as required by state law, which will vary depending on the jurisdiction. But what if your medical bills exceed them? This is why many shrewd drivers choose to hire a lawyer.
Advantages of Hiring a Lawyer
When you consider the fact that medical bills are a leading cause of bankruptcy in the United States, it is foolish to depend solely on full coverage auto insurance. If you were involved in an automobile collision that was not your fault, you deserve to get as much as possible. And hiring an experienced attorney that specializes in vehicle accidents increases the likelihood of having a favorable outcome.
Furthermore, many law firms will not charge upfront for their services. Rather, they will review your situation, and if they feel you have a strong case, they will represent you and then get their earnings as a percentage of your settlement if you win. This is also why it is important to collect documentation from the accident scene if you can, especially photos. The more evidence you have which shows the collision was caused by the other driver, the greater the chance of winning in court and getting a lucrative settlement.
When suing the other party you’ll want to factor in things like medical bills, the salary you lost, and the suffering and pain, which are collectively referred to as damages. The judge will review the evidence showing what transpired, and if they agree the plaintiff will be subject to a lawsuit judgment which is enforceable, where they are obligated by law to pay you a specific amount. If the plaintiff can’t pay the cash in a lump sum, their wages may be garnished.
Factors That Might Void Coverage
Even if you have full coverage auto insurance, there are a number of factors that might void it, especially if you are the one that caused the accident. An example of this would be the accusation of causing an accident intentionally. If this can be proven or verified, your coverage might be voided and the duty for defense could be nullified.
Most vehicular insurance policies only offer coverage for actions that are negligent, rather than intentional. So though insurance companies can provide lawyers in certain circumstances, they will definitely not do so if you’re found to have struck someone or their vehicle purposefully or were drinking while driving when the collision occurred.