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Most car accident claims involve bodily injuries, but that doesn’t mean you can’t recover compensation if you aren’t injured in a collision. If your no-injury car accident resulted in damages of any kind, you can file a claim.
Types of Available Compensation for a No-Injury Car Accident
After most collisions, you can file an insurance claim for non-injury damages. Non-injury damages is a legal term for compensation that covers losses from a car accident that do not involve medical care or treatment for an injury. Your non-injury damages might include compensation for:
Property Damage
Payment for the costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle, as well as any other personal items damaged in the accident.
Rental Car
You can claim the costs for a rental car if you need one while yours is in the shop or while waiting for a check for reimbursement.
Lost Income
If you have to miss any time away from work due to your accident, you can recover lost wages. In some cases, you may be able to recover damages for diminished earning capacity if you can no longer work or cannot work at the same level as before your car accident.
Who Is Responsible For Paying My Damages?
The driver who caused your accident is responsible for your damages. Typically, you will file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. This is called a third-party claim because you are the third party to the other driver and their insurer. The insurance company will process your claim, but they will also investigate the accident to determine that their policyholder was truly at fault. Most car accident claims settle outside of court. However, if the negligent party or their insurance company refuses to offer you a fair amount based on your losses, you may benefit from filing a property damage lawsuit.
An alternative option is to file a claim against your own auto insurance policy. However, you will be responsible for your deductible until your insurer recovers compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
If you discover that the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, you will need to go through your own insurance company directly if you have UM/UIM (Uninsured/underinsured motorist) insurance coverage. If you happened to have rejected this coverage as part of your policy, you can still file a claim against your collision coverage. However, if you only carry liability insurance and the other driver is uninsured or underinsured, your only option for compensation is to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver personally.
Do I Need a Lawyer?
No-injury car accident claims typically do not require a lawyer, but hiring one can be beneficial. Car accident lawyers take the burden of dealing with the insurance company off of your shoulders. They will also gather evidence, evaluate your damages, and handle the negotiations for you. In the event that you pursue a lawsuit against the driver or their insurance company, an attorney will make certain that the proper steps are taken to ensure you recover the compensation you are entitled to.
Contact Milano Legal Group
A no-injury car accident can still result in extensive damages. Speak to a Car Accident Lawyer to discuss your legal options. Reach us online or call (855) 545-1777 today for a free consultation.
