For South Carolinians who have suffered property damage or personal injuries in an accident caused by another, it is important to understand the role played by insurance in the legal process.
What is Liability Insurance?
Liability insurance is the insurance for the “at-fault” driver who caused the accident. The carrier providing this type of insurance company is usually the one that pays a claim arising out of an auto accident. Not all liability insurance companies are the same; some are relatively easy to deal with, while others are very contentious. The experience of dealing with a liability insurance provider also depends on the extent of coverage held by the at-fault driver. In South Carolina, the minimum amount of liability insurance coverage to be possessed by a driver is $25,000 for any one individual’s claim. Most drivers only carry this minimum amount of coverage for claims made against their insurance policy. Furthermore, liability insurance payouts are usually capped at a certain amount.
The Issue of Uninsured Drivers
Unfortunately, some drivers do not carry auto insurance. When an uninsured driver is at fault for an accident resulting in property damage, the insurance company of the victim must step in to pay for repair or replacement costs. Fortunately, for the insured, uninsured motorist coverage is automatically included in liability insurance coverage in the state of South Carolina as a safeguard for the event of an accident caused by an uninsured motorist. Other times, the insurance provider of an innocent driver may have to step in to cover repair or replacement costs when an-fault driver is simply underinsured. To be underinsured is to have an inadequate amount of insurance to cover your damages. Insurance is inadequate when it is insufficient to pay the full claim for repairs or replacement. For example, an at-fault driver possessing only $25,000 of liability insurance who causes $30,000 of property damage is underinsured. Unfortunately, unlike uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist coverage is not automatically included in liability insurance. Because it is not, one must elect to purchase coverage if one is the victim of an accident caused by an underinsured driver.
Besides liability insurance, there is also medical payment or personal injury protection coverage. This insurance is designed to cover the cost of personal injuries and lost income due to missed work arising from an auto accident.
Contact a South Carolina Accident Attorney for More Information
Unfortunately, dealing with one’s own insurance company can sometimes be as frustrating as dealing with an at-fault driver’s insurance carrier. In such instances, even your own insurance provider will fight paying your claim. Faced with contentious insurance companies, uninsured or underinsured drivers, repair shops, and possibly healthcare bills, the post-accident claim process can sometimes seem as bad or worse than an accident itself.
To ensure that you recover the maximum compensation you are entitled to after you have been involved in an accident caused by the wrongful conduct of another, contact an experienced Greenville car wreck attorney. A dedicated attorney will guide you every step of the way and fight to get the compensation you need and deserve for any property damage or personal injuries you have suffered as the result of an accident.