Motor vehicle collisions are one of the leading causes of serious injury in the United States. Thousands of crashes occur every day, and some of them lead to major medical challenges for the people involved.
Oftentimes, the injuries generated in car crashes are temporary medical issues. However, people do sometimes acquire permanent medical challenges because of motor vehicle collisions. Someone who develops a traumatic brain injury or loses a body part may no longer be able to work to support themselves.
How can people offset the loss of their income when a car crash causes major medical challenges?
People may find insurance is inadequate
Those involved in serious motor vehicle collisions may have a false sense of confidence in the immediate aftermath of the wreck. People hope that car insurance coverage can help them offset the losses from the wreck.
Unfortunately, Montana’s rules for car insurance aren’t adequate to protect those with permanent consequences. Someone left unable to work indefinitely may not be able to obtain adequate reimbursement through an insurance claim alone. The state only requires $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage. While some drivers carry more than that, someone left unable to work may not even receive a full year’s salary from the insurance of the other driver if their coverage is low.
Personal injury lawsuits are sometimes necessary
Insurance serves to protect people from liability when their actions have negative consequences for others. Those who fail to invest in adequate insurance coverage may be legally and financially responsible for any crashes that they cause. Provided that there is evidence that someone’s negligence or rule-breaking was the underlying cause of the crash, a personal injury lawsuit against the other driver might be an option.
Some people find that there is a business with a degree of liability for a crash. Employers could be responsible for a crash caused by someone on the clock, while businesses that produce vehicles could be liable if a defect in design or manufacturing contributed to the crash.
Someone who is facing substantial lifetime losses because of a collision may need to look into all of the different options for seeking compensation to adequately offset their lost income. Filing a personal injury lawsuit, or perhaps more than one lawsuit, could be a reasonable response to a motor vehicle crash caused by another’s negligence that leaves someone unable to work.