What Types of Compensation can I Recover in an Uninsured Motorist Claim?

If you have suffered an injury caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver in North Carolina, you may be worried about paying your medical bills. North Carolina drivers are required to purchase minimum amounts of car insurance. Unfortunately, according to a study conducted by the Insurance Information Institute in 2015, approximately 6.5% of North Carolina drivers do not have any car insurance. Drivers injured by an uninsured motorist will likely need to file a claim with their own insurance company to receive compensation.

At Arnold & Smith, PLLC we understand how frustrating it is to suffer injuries at the hands of another uninsured driver. That is why our skilled car accident attorneys fight so hard on behalf of our injured clients. We negotiate assertively on behalf of our clients seeking to obtain compensation for their injuries. You do not need to go through this process alone.

Our attorneys can help you submit a persuasive and thorough claim for uninsured motorist compensation. We have an in-depth understanding of how insurance companies process claims and use this knowledge to benefit our clients. Contact our law firm today to schedule your free initial consultation.

Two of the main types of compensation available to those filing an uninsured motorist claim are for economic damages and non-economic damages. Most uninsured motorist policies will pay for the following types of economic damages:

• Medical expenses including hospital stay, doctor appointments and surgeries
• Physical therapy expenses
• Property damage
• Lost wages
• The cost of home health care

Most uninsured motorist policies will also pay the injured party for non-economic damages, such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Long-term suffering

It is essential to comb through your insurance policy before submitting a claim carefully. The terms of your uninsured motorist coverage should be spelled out. Insurance policies are contracts governed by the terms of the agreement. Most uninsured motorist policies will cover medical costs caused by an accident.

Insurance companies calculate the amount of payment after examining the cost of your injuries and any passenger's injuries. Insurance companies will typically reimburse injured parties for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering resulting from the accident. If you purchased uninsured motorist property damage coverage, you could claim compensation for any damage to your motor vehicle.

North Carolina drivers are required to carry the following minimum amounts of car insurance:

• Property damage insurance of at least $25,000
• Bodily injury for two or more people of at least $60,000
• Bodily injury insurance of at least $30,000 for one person

Unfortunately, the cost of car accidents often exceeds the amounts set forth above. Debt.org reports that hospitals cost an average of $3,949 per day. An average hospital stay costs $15,734. If your insurance policy is $30,000 per person for bodily injuries, two average hospital stays could push you over the limit. Many moderate to severe car accident injuries require multiple hospital stays. For example, if a person suffered a severe broken bone or burns, the injured party could need as many as six different hospitals stays for surgeries alone.

Many moderate to severe injuries require ongoing medical treatment throughout a person’s life. The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation reports that the estimated lifetime costs of a high tetraplegia injury are $2,596,329 for a 50-year-old. That amount only includes health care costs and living expenses. The figure does not include indirect costs such as the loss of wages, fringe benefits, and productivity which average approximately $70,000 per year in 2014.

If you have suffered a moderate to severe injury, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist policy will likely not cover all of the costs associated with your injury. You might still have options to recover compensation, however.

If the at-fault driver is solvent, meaning he or she has enough assets to pay for your expenses, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit in a North Carolina civil court. It is essential to understand all of your options after suffering an injury from an at-fault driver. At Arnold & Smith, PLLC we fight hard for the rights of our clients. Contact our law firm today to schedule your free initial consultation.