Can I Use Umbrella Insurance If I Was In An Acccident?
It is legally required for you to own a personal auto insurance policy if you are a driver on the road. You must meet the legal minimum limits so that proper coverage and be doled out in the event of an accident. There are many forms of insurance coverage, ranging from comprehensive and collision insurance to liability insurance. The issue is that many individuals have policies that do not fully cover their expenses if there are any incidents. To combat this, insurance agencies offer umbrella insurance, which allows parties the ability to merge policies and essentially use coverage from multiple sources. Our law firm, the Downtown LA Law Group, can ensure that your policy is properly utilized and that the insurance company pays out what they owe if you were hurt in an accident or if your car was damaged. Contact us today to learn more about umbrella insurance and what we can do to help.
What is umbrella insurance?Umbrella insurance is liability insurance and is added to your basic liability policies. It provides a higher limit and prevents assets from being seized if you owe a lot of money to someone if you were at fault in an accident. You may be held accountable for bodily injuries to such an extent that your policy limit does not reach the expenses. It provides excess liability coverage, so if your policy limits are too low, you can still have coverage. Essentially, you are protected from bodily injury liability claims in which individuals were, as well as property damage liability claims in which vehicles were damaged or totaled. You can also have coverage of false arrests, slander, libel, and more. It’s a versatile type of insurance.
Umbrella insurance will go into effect only when your basic policy limits have been reached. However, if the costs still exceed the umbrella insurance limits, you will be responsible for the rest out of pocket.
Why should I use umbrella insurance?Umbrella insurance should be used because you have many assets that could potentially be seized if you owe a large amount of expenses after a car accident. Examples of assets include automobiles, property, investments, stocks, joint retirement accounts, IRA accounts, checking accounts, savings accounts, future income, and more. It is generally wiser to have umbrella insurance cover the excess damages so that your personal assets will not be used.
Can I access my umbrella insurance policy if I was injured in a car accident?Yes, you can access your umbrella insurance policy if you were injured in a car accident, but only under certain conditions. Your insurance company will not pay out damages if the other driver were at fault and his insurance can take care of all the expenses. You could potentially reach out to your own insurance agency for additional compensation if the payments from the opposing party are not enough.
You could also potentially access your own umbrella insurance policy if you were involved in an accident with an uninsured driver. He will have no way of paying off the debts, and even if his estate and savings were targeted, it may still not be enough. Similarly, if you were in a hit and run accident, there would be no opposing insurance company who could contribute to your expenses. You will specifically need uninsured/underinsured insurance coverage, though.
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It is highly recommended that you follow these steps after getting into a car accident. You will have the best chance of success with a claim and if you have adequate evidence, the other driver will not be able to falsely accuse you of liability or causing damages.
Firstly, get the medical attention you need, even if you were not seriously injured. You should call the paramedics or go to the emergency room for severe damages, especially because some injuries may not show up immediately or be readily apparent. The doctor can check you out and see the extent of the damages. If you do not get medical treatment within an acceptable amount of time after the crash, it is likely that the insurance company will toss your claim away or try to blame your injuries on something other than the car accident. You do not want to risk having your claim voided or thrown out.
Take pictures of any and all injuries you suffered. Having proof of your physical damage is very important in a car crash claim. Additionally, you should take pictures of your car’s damage and the damage to the other vehicle. It will also benefit your case if you take pictures of the scene of the accident to show nuances like where you were hit, the road conditions, the weather, and more.
You should write down the other driver’s contact information, insurance details, driver’s license number, license plate, and more. This will allow you to file your own claim if necessary.
In the event there were injuries, police officers would likely have come to the scene of the accident. You can ask for a copy of the police report after it has been submitted to the station.
If there were any eyewitnesses who saw the car accident happen, such as passengers or pedestrians, you can interview them for their statements and testimonies for your case.
Lastly, get in touch with a Los Angeles car accident lawyer who can help you with your claim. If you have never taken legal action before, you should leave the process to a skilled attorney. You can focus on recovering from your injuries and healing up while we gather your evidence, write your demand letter, negotiate a fair deal, and see to it that your umbrella insurance policy is properly utilized.
What can I receive in a car accident claim?You may be able to secure various types of compensation if you were hurt in a car accident, and your umbrella insurance could cover numerous expenses. The insurance agent who is assigned to your case will determine how much the offer is and what will be covered. He will consider the extent of the damages, the severity, the impact they had on your life and career, your age, your responsibility or level of faulty in the incident, and more.
We will strive to win you the following damages:
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Medical bills form the past and future for surgery, hospitalization, ambulance transportation, physical rehabilitation, medication, and more
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Property damage for your vehicular damage and replacement or repair of other personal belongings
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Lost income if you were unable to return to work for a period of time, as well as future missed earnings, which can include benefits, bonuses, commissions, tips, and more
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Pain and suffering damages for PTSD, anxiety, fear, psychological stress, and more
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Wrongful death damages if a loved one or family member died in the incident, which may include pre-death medical bills, pre-death pain and suffering, funeral and burial fees, loss of consortium and relations, loss of inheritance and savings, and more
Umbrella insurance can cover numerous damages, and we can make sure you’re entirely protected.
The Downtown LA Law Group will work around the clock to win you the damages you deserve if you were in a car accident. We know how important it is that you get fully covered, and if you were hurt, you should focus on recovering from your damages while we handle the legwork of your claim. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients, and our aggressive lawyers are willing to go to court if necessary for your case.
For a free legal consultation, call our law offices today. We can be reached any time, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, year-round. All of your personal information will be kept private during the consultation. We will answer all your questions and tell you how we will maneuver through the claim. You’ll also receive our zero fee guarantee on your case, which is a promise that you won’t pay a dime out of pocket for our services. We will not get paid unless and until we win, and if we lose, we receive nothing at all.
To learn more about umbrella insurance and car accidents, contact the Downtown LA Law Group at once.
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