Persons injured in an auto accident in Ohio may face mounting medical bills and other financial losses. Filing a lawsuit might not be the preferred option because not every defendant has sufficient assets. However, filing a claim against the negligent driver’s auto liability policy may provide a vital settlement. Unfortunately, not all drivers carry insurance. Still, the accident victim may file a claim under uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
Uninsured and Underinsured Insurance
As the name indicates, uninsured/underinsured coverage allows an accident victim to file a claim against their insurance policy when the driver either does not carry any liability insurance or carries too little. Someone may have only $100,000 in liability coverage, but the victim’s losses may exceed $150,000. Filing an underinsured motorist claim could help the victim recover the necessary compensation.
Not all drivers carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, which could be regrettable. Since Ohio does not mandate it, drivers face no obligations to purchase it. Failing to purchase insurance means there’s no safety net to recover losses if hurt in an accident.
Those who did purchase uninsured/underinsured coverage could review the policy limits to determine whether they have a sufficient amount. Insurance policies only pay up to policy limits on approved claims.
Filing a claim
Auto accidents may result in substantial property damage and medical expenses. Persons unable to work after an accident may face additional financial troubles. So, procuring an insurance settlement becomes a high priority for the victims, but the insurance company may attempt to settle for a low amount. Countering the insurance company’s claims with clear evidence of losses could result in a better settlement.
In some cases, a policyholder may sue the insurance company for bad faith. So, a denied claim might not be the end of the process.