In a Car Accident, What Is Bodily Injury Coverage?
Bodily injury coverage in a car accident compensates the victim for the medical costs they incurred from their injuries. Not all states require this insurance.
In general, bodily injury coverage in car accidents compensates the victim for their medical costs. Not all states require drivers to purchase bodily injury insurance. Still, if you get hurt in a car accident, you should be able to recover compensation from the applicable insurance company. If it turns out that an insurance settlement isn’t the best route, you may want to consider filing a personal injury lawsuit.
A lawyer can evaluate your situation and determine your options for compensation.
A Deeper Look Into Bodily Injury Coverage After a Car Accident
In general, bodily injury coverage accounts for the medical bills a victim accumulated because of a car accident. Whether you must buy this insurance depends on your state. States are either fault or no-fault when it comes to car accidents.
Usually, drivers in no-fault states do not have to buy bodily injury coverage, but it’s optional. Instead, should they get in an accident, their personal injury protection (PIP) will cover their medical bills and lost income to policy limits. However, if their damages exceed these limits, they can seek additional compensation from the other party.
On the other hand, fault states typically require drivers to buy bodily injury coverage. Up to policy limits, this insurance would pay for the other party’s damages from an accident.
What Does Bodily Injury Insurance Cover?
Bodily injury insurance usually covers the injured party’s injury-related costs, which are predominantly medical care bills. They usually account for:
- Emergency transportation
- Prescription medications
- Blood tests, X-rays, and other diagnostic assessments
- Surgeries
- Hospital stays
- Follow-up care appointments
- Mobility aids
- Physical therapy
Medical costs can add up quickly, and the liable party might not have purchased enough insurance to cover them. In that case, you may be able to seek additional compensation through other avenues, like a personal injury lawsuit.
Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Car Accident
Sometimes, if your damages exceed your bodily injury or PIP coverage, you may have grounds to file an injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the other party. You have a limited time to act, though. Talk to a Fort Lauderdale wrongful death lawyers to see how long you have, as each state’s deadline varies.
If you file past the deadline, the court may probably bar you from holding the liable party accountable. So, the sooner you seek legal help, the sooner you can submit your case.
Other Damages You Might Be Able to Recover From a Car Accident Case
Depending on the available coverage and legal route you pursue, you may be able to recover other damages on top of medical bills, such as:
Lost Income and Reduced Earning Capacity
Depending on the severity of your injuries, you might have had to miss work for a few days or weeks, so you weren’t able to earn:
- Commissions
- Hourly wages
- Bonuses
- Salaries
- Promotions
- Business opportunities
- Tips
Sometimes, car accident injuries could take someone out of work for months, years, or forever. They might have to get a lower-paying, sedentary job. Compensation for reduced earning capacity could be available if you had to quit your job and accept a new one, as it can make up for the difference in earnings.
Pain and Suffering
Despite its absence of monetary value, you could go after compensation for pain and suffering. It can help you cope with the pain and inconvenience your injuries have inflicted. Common injuries people sustain in a car collision include:
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Whiplash
- Internal bleeding
- Spinal cord injury
- Nerve damage
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
In terms of the final injury, car accidents can traumatize their victims, and mental health injuries shouldn’t go unnoticed. With that, damages for mental distress could be recoverable.
Vehicle Repair Costs
If you were in a car accident, it probably did some damage to your car. In that case, you may qualify to request compensation to pay for the repair or even the replacement if your car was totaled.
Wrongful Death Damages
If your loved one suffered fatal car accident injuries, you and your family could receive awards that cover the deceased’s funeral, burial, and final medical care, as well as your loss of companionship or consortium.
Our
Personal Injury
Lawyers Can Assist You After a Bodily Injury Car Accident
A Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer from our team can determine if you can seek damages through bodily injury coverage after a car accident. At the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato, we aim to recover the damages you need to recover, whether that’s from an insurance policy or a personal injury lawsuit.
Dial (954) 633-8270 for a free consultation with one of our team members. Contact us today.
