Every state requires you to carry car insurance, but there are many out there who choose to drive without coverage. Even if the driver has insurance, it may be the minimum required by the state which is very little. Some people say that you don’t need underinsured (UIM) or uninsured (UM) motorist coverage if you carry health insurance. The best personal injury attorneys in Las Vegas disagree with that advice.
Liability Coverage Limits
According to a personal injury lawyer Las Vegas, Nevada only requires $25,000 bodily injury per person/$50,000 bodily injury per accident and $20,000 property damage per accident. As a result, if you are injured in an accident the most the insurance company will pay is $25,000, even if your medical bills are in triple digits. Unless the driver has significant assets to go after, you are left paying on your own if you don’t have underinsured motorist coverage. Although Nevada requires you to carry uninsured motorist coverage, not all states do.
How Underinsured Coverage Works
A Las Vegas personal injury lawyer says that underinsured motorist coverage protects you if you are injured in a car accident by another driver with little or no insurance. Your insurance will pay your damages up to your policy limits on top of what the other driver’s insurance pays. If you have property damage coverage, it will also pay for damage to your car or other property if the at-fault driver does not have enough coverage.
Why You Need Uninsured/Underinsured Coverage
When you purchase auto liability insurance, you are paying to protect others, so it makes complete sense to protect yourself using your auto policy. The average cost of a car accident injury is almost $16,000, and you could be responsible for paying any costs over $25,000 if the other driver has the minimum required under the law. You can hire a personal injury lawyer Las Vegas to sue the other driver, but if they are carrying the minimum policy limits, chances are they will not have the money to pay out of their pocket for any judgment you receive.
Medical Insurance
Some medical insurance will cover parts of your injuries from a car accident. You will still be responsible for your co-payment and deductibles if your health insurance pays for your treatment. In most cases, the hospital and doctor will send bills to the insurance company before they send them to your health insurance company. However, if your health insurer paid the bills first, they will seek reimbursement for what they paid.
Often, medical insurance companies try to avoid paying medical bills if they know injuries are the result of a car accident. Deductibles and co-pays can add up quickly if you require ongoing physical therapy or chiropractic appointments.
Health insurance will not cover you for other items that underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage covers. Lost wages, future lost income, pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life are all damages health insurance will not cover. As a result, the best Las Vegas personal injury attorneys recommend drivers carry as much underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage as possible.
Getting payment from through uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage can be complicated. As a result, after a car accident injury, you need to speak to a Las Vegas personal injury attorney who can guide you through the entire process. Contact The Schnitzer Law Firm by calling 702-960-4050, emailing contact@theschnitzerlawfirm.com or filling out the easy online form.