Suffering injuries due to a car crash, unsafe property conditions or other preventable safety hazard can be a frustrating experience in addition to a painful one. The injured person may want to hold the party at fault accountable for their losses.
Frequently, they can achieve that goal by filing an insurance claim. However, those with serious injuries might choose to file a personal injury lawsuit instead of relying on insurance to cover their expenses. When can people injured due to the negligence or misconduct of other people or businesses take legal action to address their injuries?
When losses are substantial
Significant injuries may generate medical costs high enough to exceed the insurance coverage available. If injuries require surgery, rehabilitative care or a lengthy stay in the hospital, then a basic insurance policy may not offer enough coverage for those expenses.
Policy limits determine the maximum compensation available. Insurance alone may not be adequate to compensate a person for the costs they incur, especially if an injury is serious enough to generate lost wages or permanently diminish a person’s earning potential.
When insurance isn’t available
Although insurance is mandatory for drivers and advisable for property owners and businesses, not everyone carries the coverage they should. Sometimes, people end up seriously injured and later learn that there isn’t an insurance policy that can cover their losses. In such cases, litigation against the party at fault or third parties with partial liability may be the only way to cover injury-related expenses.
Estimating total losses and then evaluating options for compensation can be helpful for those concerned about the financial impact of a recent injury. The guidance of a personal injury attorney can help those with significant expenses secure the compensation they need to cover all of their costs.