I saw the shiny silver, 2014 SUV first. At first, I was just annoyed. It was blocking the left lane, backing up traffic for blocks. Once I passed it, I was able to take in the full scene. A gray, rusty, Corolla, driven by a kid clearly no older than 18, had cut off the SUV and damaged the front end of the car. The driver of the SUV was young as well. He was on his phone, calling the police or his car insurance company. He was annoyed, but handling the situation.
Yet, it was kid driving the Corolla that really struck me. He was dressed like a “tough kid.” Tattoos, muscle shirt, the works.
He was crying.
He was saying he was sorry.
It was clear to me that he’d never been in a car accident before and the damage to the new SUV was clearly more severe than the damage to his own car.
I wondered as I drove away: is the kid insured? If he is insured, will insurance cover the damages? I wanted to comfort him, to tell him that these kinds of accidents happen all the time, and this is why we take out the best car insurance for days like this, days where the things that can go wrong, do go wrong.
What would his parents say? I hoped they had looked into auto owners insurance reviews and gotten him comprehensive insurance, that they’d tell him he did his best, that sometimes accidents happen.
According to Minnesota.gov, in 1974, the state passed a No-Fault Automobile Insurance Act. Minnesota drivers are required to hold coverage for property damage, medical expenses, and lost wages in the case of an accident. PIP or personal injury coverage will pay your medical expenses, whether you were at fault or not. The liability coverage requires the insurance company to repair or replace the other person’s vehicle if you were at fault for the accident. Underinsured coverage is also required and will pay your medical bills if the other person was at fault and their coverage isn’t sufficient to cover all your medical fees. Uninsured coverage is similar to underinsured coverage, but will pay all medical bills when you have exhausted PIP and if the other driver who was at fault doesn’t have coverage. This may all sound overwhelming, so if you need any assistance determining which insurance coverage is best for you, go to websites like Truly Insurance Online or other similar online review sites.
Unfortunately, not everyone understands that their coverage protects them in case they get into an accident with an uninsured vehicle. It may not seem direct or easy like a life insurance claim. The availability of reviews and extra resources online lets us understand life insurance coverage a little better. In case of an accident with an uninsured vehicle, insurance companies sometimes make it challenging to file a claim, force rate increases on customers who have been in an accident, and sometimes outright deny coverage.
If you have been in an accident, write down the name of drivers involved, their insurance company names, policy numbers, and license plate numbers. Write down the names of any people who witnessed the accident. Call your insurance company to begin your claim. Finally, you may want to call the other driver’s insurance, if you wish to file a claim against his or her insurance policy.
If you have been in a car accident or have suffered a personal injury following an accident, you have the right to receive compensation from your insurance company and sometimes from the other driver’s insurance as well. If you have been denied a claim, or are unsure whether you are entitled to funds from another party’s insurance, you may want to contact a personal injury lawyer in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The Law Office of Martin T. Montilino, is a law firm that has been practicing law since 1991. The office charges no fees unless you receive an award for your claim.