In most cases where an at-fault driver causes an injury accident, victims will pursue a claim against the negligent driver’s insurance company to cover medical expenses, property damage, and other losses. However, what happens when the driver responsible for the accident does not have insurance or doesn’t have enough coverage to pay for all the damages? This situation becomes even more complicated if the driver leaves the scene and is not identified. Personal injury cases often arise from accidents with underinsured drivers, leaving victims with few options for recourse through the at-fault party's insurance.
Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable in underinsured motorist accidents due to the lack of protection their vehicles offer. In such cases, the injuries sustained can be severe, yet the coverage from an underinsured driver might not be enough to cover extensive medical costs and long-term recovery needs. This creates significant challenges for victims who must navigate the legal complexities of seeking additional compensation through their own insurance or other legal avenues.
Premises liability may also be a factor if an accident occurs on unsafe property, such as poorly maintained roads, inadequate signage, or hazardous conditions on private property. In these instances, a property owner could share responsibility for the injuries, and victims may be able to pursue a claim against the owner or manager of the property in addition to the driver. This adds another layer of complexity to personal injury claims, particularly when dealing with underinsured or uninsured motorists.
Truck accidents can also involve uninsured motorists, causing serious injury due to the sheer size and weight of the vehicles involved. Victims of such accidents often face devastating consequences, and without proper insurance coverage from the responsible party, obtaining fair compensation can be even more difficult. In these situations, it is crucial to explore all potential sources of recovery to ensure that victims are not left to bear the financial burden of their injuries alone.
Kansas law requires drivers to carry a minimum of $25,000 per person/$50,000 bodily injury coverage. This coverage is meant to compensate injury victims in the event a driver causes a collision. However, this coverage is often nowhere near sufficient enough to compensate those who are seriously injured. In fact, the limits can quickly be exhausted just by emergency room care.
These are complex cases always best handled by an experienced car accident law firm in Wichita. Each cases is unique, but common avenues of recovery in such cases include:
In all cases, early consultation with an experienced Wichita car accident lawyer is the best thing you can do to protect your rights. Early investigation is often the best way to identify at-fault parties and determine all of the factors of causation in a collision.
In cases where victims must pursue a claim against their own insurance carrier, they should not expect to be treated as a valued customer. These claims are no different to an insurance carrier than other claims by third-party victims. Your insurance company and its adjusters, investigators and lawyers, will be focused on limiting the cost of your claim and your ability to collect damages.
In addition to proving causation and identifying all liable parties, your chosen Wichita car accident lawyer must also determine the total value of your claim, including economic damages like medical expenses and lost wages, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering. This can be a complex process, particularly when serious injury results in the likelihood of a lengthy recovery, disability and/or the probability of future medical complications.
At Riedmiller, Andersen and Scott LLC, our Wichita car accident lawyers believe victims and families deserve immediate access to experienced legal help without concerns over upfront costs or other barriers that would otherwise put them at a disadvantage when dealing with large insurance corporations and their attorneys. That’s why we offer confidential consultations and accept clients on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid only when we are successful in winning compensation for you and your family.
The veteran car accident lawyers at Riedmiller, Andersen and Scott LLC represent injury victims and their families in Wichita, Kansas and the surrounding areas, including Valley Center, Park City, Kechi, Bel Aire, Eastbourough, Andover, Derby, Newton, El Dorado, Arkansas City, Winfield, Haysville, Goddard and Maize. For a confidential consultation to discuss your rights call 316-648-1369.