People often don’t know what to expect in the immediate aftermath of a car crash. They may turn to insurance companies for support without learning first about their rights. Unfortunately, some Arizona collisions will leave people seriously hurt or struggling with property damage losses that insurance will not fully cover.
As someone affected by a wreck, you need to know what you can expect from the insurance companies. What rights do you have after a major collision?
If you are at fault
The policy that you carry on your vehicle consists primarily of liability coverage. When you are at fault for a crash, your liability coverage will pay the vehicle repair costs and medical expenses of the other people affected up to the maximum limit of coverage.
You won’t have any liability for the crash unless the costs generated during the collision exceed the insurance that you have available. It is common for drivers to carry several times the mandatory amount of coverage to limit their potential future liability.
If you are not at fault
When the other driver caused the crash, you will typically make a claim against their policy. Depending on how much coverage they carry, you may have enough insurance to pay for hospital bills, lost wages and vehicle repairs.
However, if your costs are high or their coverage is low, you may have expenses insurance won’t cover. You could also get hurt in a crash caused by someone with no insurance whatsoever. In those two dangerous scenarios, any additional coverage you added to your own policy could help you. Uninsured and underinsured motorist protection can help those hurt by someone with insufficient insurance coverage.
In either scenario, you can expect that the insurance company will do its best to minimize what it pays without outright violating its obligations to the policyholder. From aggressive negotiations to trying to trick you into admitting fault, there are many tactics the insurance company might employ in an attempt to deprive you of the resources that you require after a collision.
Knowing what to expect from insurance providers after an Arizona car crash will help you more effectively advocate for yourself and cover your costs.