Car crashes can leave people with life-altering injuries or tens of thousands of dollars in damage to their vehicles. Insurance makes daily driving less of a risk.
Everyone in Louisiana should carry liability insurance coverage. Some drivers even invest in extra coverage to protect them from excess liability or other issues, like hit-and-run crashes. When another driver causes a wreck that hurts you or damages your vehicle, you probably expect to make a straightforward insurance claim.
Some drivers learn that insurance won’t fully cover their costs after a crash.
Louisiana’s insurance requirements leave coverage gaps
For someone to legally drive in Louisiana, they need to carry at least $25,000 worth of property damage liability coverage. They also need $15,000 worth of bodily injury liability coverage that increases to $30,000 when more than one person gets hurt in a crash.
Although some drivers do pay for additional protection, many only carry what the state requires. The cost to fix your vehicle could easily go over $25,000, especially if the insurance company declares your vehicle a total loss.
A week in the hospital could be enough to leave you without enough medical liability coverage from the other driver, as could surgery. The same coverage should also reimburse you for property damage losses, so you can likely imagine how it may not be enough if you get seriously hurt.
What happens when the insurance runs out?
If you have already incurred more expenses than the other driver’s insurance will carry, you may have a few options available. If you are one of those people who invested in supplemental coverage, your own insurance policy might help. Underinsured motorist protection could help pay for some of your costs, as could collision coverage.
You may also have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver who caused the crash. Provided that you can prove the wreck was their fault and caused by negligence or illegal driving behavior, you may be able to ask the court to award compensation for expenses not covered by their insurance. Knowing your rights after a car crash leaves you with injuries in Louisiana can make it easier for you to claim the compensation you need.