When to file a lawsuit after a serious car crash

You don’t plan to wind up in a serious motor vehicle crash. In fact, most people go out of their way to avoid known risk factors that could increase the potential of a crash, like alcohol or distractions. However, no amount of safety precautions can protect you if someone else is driving in an irresponsible manner.

If you get into a crash, the chances are good that your primary focus will be moving on with your life as quickly as possible. Truly moving on usually requires some degree of financial compensation, because car wrecks often cost many thousands of dollars.

You probably have to repair damage to your vehicle, and you may also have injuries that require medical treatment. If you are dealing with expenses related to your crash, you may start to wonder about whether you should take legal action to recoup your expenses.

How much has the crash cost you?

It can be difficult to accurately estimate the impact of a car crash on your finances. Figuring out what a crash has cost and will cost you is a starting point for moving on.

The first thing that you should do is try to put a price tag on the impact of the collision so far in your life. Adding up all of your medical bills, your vehicle repair bills and other related costs is a good start. You should also calculate your lost wages after the crash. Then, look at medical recommendations and consider what your future costs and losses will eventually be.

Many times, people are surprised to learn that a crash creates tens of thousands of dollars worth of liability and loss. In some cases, the other driver’s insurance policy won’t adequately cover your costs. You shouldn’t have to worry about covering those costs yourself if you aren’t responsible for the collision.

Many people in Ohio don’t carry enough insurance

To the average driver, car insurance seems like a frustrating reality, not important protection. People don’t like feeling forced into paying for something that they think they’ll never need to use. That attitude informs how they insure themselves.

A large number of drivers are only going to carry the minimum amount of insurance as required under state law. That means that they will only have $25,000 in property damage coverage and $25,000 in medical coverage. If your total expenses exceed the amount of insurance coverage offered by the policy of the person responsible for the crash, you may need to start thinking about your other options.

Filing a civil lawsuit could help you while also holding the other driver responsible for their dangerous decisions that led to your wreck.

Categories: Injuries