Multi Car
Accidents
So, you're involved in
an accident with multiple cars. What can you expect? Why isn't the insurance
adjuster getting back to you?
When you're
involved in a multi-car accident, the process to resolve even the simplest
claim can be more frustrating than usual. Even if it's obvious who was at-fault
in the collision, the at-fault drivers’ insurance is going to take a long time
to do anything, including arranging rental cars. The insurance company will be
reluctant to issue any money when it looks like the limits of their insured's
policy will be exhausted. If the at-fault driver has a minimum policy, they
will have property damage liability coverage in the amount of $25,000 and
liability bodily injury coverage in the amount of $30,000 per person / $60,000
per accident. That means that all of the vehicles that were damaged in the
collision will be going after the same pot of money for the property damage
($25,000) and for the bodily injury claims (30/60). If one of the cars is a
very expensive car, that one vehicle may have $25,000 in damages alone.
Likewise, if one person is badly injured, their medical bills could easily
exceed $30,000. In both of these examples, the insurance company is going to be
reluctant to pay anything until it knows for sure everybody's damages so that
it can properly allocate its money to the various parties according to who was
damaged the most. If the amount of the damages is greater than the amount of
available insurance, the at-fault insurance company will pay a pro rata amount
to each injured party, usually based on the amount of each individual's
damages.
This is why it's always
important to have proper insurance for yourself. Remember, your insurance
should cover you when it's all said and done. If you have proper insurance, you
can run your property damage claim through your own insurance and expedite the
process. But, if you don't have the proper coverages, you must wait until all
parties are ready to settle before receiving any money from the at-fault
carrier. Additionally, if the pro rata amount from the at-fault carrier doesn't
cover all of your damages, you can pursue additional coverage through your
Underinsured covered with your auto insurance policy. Your premium rates will
not increase by running the claim through your insurance because you were not
at-fault in the accident.
Therefore, when shopping for auto insurance, make sure that you are requesting Underinsured and Uninsured coverage sufficient to cover you for both property damage and bodily injury should you get in a vehicle accident. To have a North Carolina attorney review your auto accident claim, call Paul Robinson at Hemmings & Stevens today for a free consultation. 919-277-0161.