Statistics from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles show 144 people were injured in car accidents every day in Virginia in 2020.
So, even if you are the best driver in the Commonwealth, you could end up being involved in a car accident at some point.
If you do find yourself in a Virginia auto accident, you may be eligible for compensation. However, the compensation you could receive depends on numerous factors.
Check out the following helpful information to find out if you would qualify for compensation after an auto accident.
The Type of Insurance You Have Affects Your Eligibility for Compensation
While most victims of auto accidents can collect compensation, not every individual can. It largely depends on the type of insurance policy you carry and the type of insurance the other party has.
To get a good understanding of what you could and could not legally qualify for, and to proceed with a claim, you should get a car crash attorney.
The type of insurance you carry determines the types of damages your insurer is obligated to pay. Here are three of the most common types of coverage.
Personal Injury Protection
If someone else is injured in the car accident and you carry liability insurance, you can ensure injuries to that person and his or her property is covered. But if you want to be compensated for your own injuries, you should consider getting personal injury protection or medical payments coverage. With such additional coverage, you can gain help to pay for your injuries in accidents that you cause.
Collision Insurance
If a driver crashes into your car and you carry collision insurance, you can get compensation for the damage done to your vehicle. You can even get compensation if your car hits an object, such as a mailbox or tree.
UM/UIM Insurance
Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance helps to pay for vehicle damage or injuries that come from an auto accident in which the driver does not have the insurance needed to pay for the damages. This add-on coverage can be very handy if you are involved in an accident in Virginia with a driver who has little or no insurance.
Types of Compensation You May Be Entitled To
Even if you do not have any of the above insurance coverage, it is worth getting in touch with a lawyer who specializes in car accidents to find out if you can gain compensation when you are involved in an auto accident that was not your fault.
As for the type of compensation you may be entitled to, that comes down to the coverage you have, whose responsibility the accident was, and the extent of the harm that you have experienced as a result of the accident.
Here are some of the most common forms of compensation you could be entitled to after being involved in a Virginia auto accident:
- Current and future medical expenses, which include compensation for medical costs received as well as those anticipated for the future, such as corrective surgeries and ongoing medications.
- Current and future loss of wages, which involves compensation to cover any work you have missed due to the accident and the future wages you could miss out on.
- Property damage, which enables you to claim compensation for repairs when another driver has damaged your car in an accident.
Summing Up
Whether you are eligible for different types of compensation after being involved in a Virginia car accident comes down to things like the type of insurance coverage you have, whose fault the accident was, and what injuries, trauma, and damage were caused by the accident.
To find out whether you qualify for compensation, seek free advice from a specialist lawyer.
