Having an accident which impacts on your life is stressful. When you are trying to cover medical costs and need to take time off work to recover, it is important that you know what your financial options are. Personal injury attorneys help people who have been through an accident and now seek recourse from the other person who caused it. Before you meet with a personal injury attorney, there are details you need to gather so the attorney can help you with your case. These posts are all about what accident and personal injury attorneys do, what they need from you, and the different situations where using one is beneficial to your lifestyle.
Auto accident victims will find themselves dealing with a myriad of issues after an accident. While victims should place a priority on getting better and recuperating from their accident injuries, there will come a time when action should be taken to deal with the financial aspects of the wreck. Accident victims may be in line to get paid for several categories. These categories of need are known as damages. Damages from a typical accident might include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. One of those forms of damage concerns your loss of transportation after the accident. Read on to find out more so that you can be paid your fair share.
What to Understand About Transportation Damages
Most people depend on their cars to get to work, to school, to the grocery store, and to medical appointments. You might even take the use of the vehicle for granted until it ends up a crumpled mess because of a careless driver. While you might think of this as a big inconvenience, it's also part of what the other driver owes to you. They (or their auto insurer) should pay you for your loss of transportation. This category of expenses can be broken down into the following areas:
Your Vehicle Damage
In many cases, your vehicle can be repaired. In other cases, when the damage is too extensive, your vehicle will be labeled "totaled". Often, the insurer will pay for your damages and either repair your vehicle or pay you for what it's worth. Unfortunately, some vehicle owners could come away from that experience with an auto loan balance on their hands. Unless you purchased so-called gap insurance, your car might not be worth enough to pay off the loan balance. That could mean paying on a loan for a vehicle that you no longer have. Don't allow that to happen. Speak to a personal injury lawyer about your situation and make sure the other driver pays you for your car.
Another issue that can arise with vehicle damage is when the insurer sets limits on how much they will pay for a vehicle. Very rare or collectible vehicles are often worth more than the common vehicle. Speak to your lawyer about how to make them pay for that rare vehicle.
Public Transportation
Until you get your vehicle situation straightened out, you may need to rely on public transportation to get around. Keep your receipts if you use the bus, train, ride services like Uber, and cabs. You are entitled to be paid for all of that.
Rental Cars
Some people have the insurance option to rent a car if their vehicle becomes damaged. If your own auto policy doesn't cover that need, you are entitled to be reimbursed for a rental car for the time period between the wreck and when the case is settled.
You may need to speak to a personal injury lawyer to ensure you are paid what you deserve, in not just the transportation area, but all areas.
Share29 April 2020
