If you are injured in an accident in which someone else was at fault, then you might have the right and the grounds to file a personal injury case. However, no matter how much your damages might be or what you are awarded by a judge or jury, the insurance policy limit of the at-fault party could impact your compensation. Read on to learn the facts and then contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 to request a free legal consultation.
Compensation from the Insurance Company Can Be Limited
How much you can recover from an insurance company will be limited to the amount of coverage that the person you are suing has chosen to buy. If you suffer a serious injury such as a brain injury or spinal cord injury, the medical bills by themselves can get up into the hundreds of thousands of dollars – not to mention the lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
That said, if the person who was responsible for the accident has an insurance policy that offers $100,000 in coverage, then that is likely to be the maximum amount their insurance company will pay you. However, there might be other ways to get the compensation you deserve.
There Are Three Options if You Need More Compensation
If the initial insurance policy does not cover your costs, you are not necessarily out of luck. There are a few things you can do. First, you can check to see if there is an umbrella policy. In some cases, a company will have an umbrella policy that allows them to offer more protection in specific situations. A private individual might also have an umbrella policy.
Second, you can see if there are other defendants you can target. For example, if you were injured in a car accident, the other driver might not be the only at-fault party. Were they working at the time of the accident? Then their employer might be negligent. Was the accident due in part to a faulty part on their vehicle? If so, the manufacturer of their vehicle might be at fault.
Finally, you can attempt to collect directly from the defendant. This is a good option if the at-fault party is a corporate entity that has the funds to pay you, or if the defendant is an individual with the financial means to pay you. However, remember that even if you win a judgment, if the person in question does not have the funds to pay it, it will do you no good.
The easiest way to find out what your options are and how you can find the best possible outcome is to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation. We are standing by and ready to help you find the best way forward.
