A California car crash could result in numerous life-altering consequences for those involved. Sometimes, a crash might cause a spinal cord or brain injury. Other times, people may lose body parts because of collisions.
Severe or catastrophic injuries require expensive emergency medical care and may also affect someone’s functional abilities. Catastrophic injuries often result in lifelong medical consequences. Those adjusting to life with a catastrophic injury after a California car crash may expect support from liability insurance. Unfortunately, many people with high-cost injuries experience profound disappointments when negotiating car insurance claims.
Coverage requirements leave people with big expenses
Drivers in California generally need to pay for liability coverage to legally drive. Some people pay for very extensive insurance to protect their resources and future income from the possibility of a lawsuit. A large percentage of drivers take the exact opposite approach to insurance. They want to keep their costs as low as possible, regardless of the consequences of that decision.
Some drivers in California have $5,000 in property damage coverage and $15,000 in bodily injury coverage. Regardless of how much financial loss another party suffers, an insurance provider never pays more than the policy limits. Those involved in particularly severe crashes often realize early on that insurance coverage can’t properly reimburse them.
Personal injury lawsuits can close the gap
Someone who causes a collision through negligence or traffic violations is responsible for the harm that incident causes for other people. If their insurance coverage is insufficient given the scope of the damages caused, then they may have personal legal and financial liability for the incident.
Those injured in car crashes can sometimes seek compensation by filing a lawsuit against the driver at fault for the incident. Occasionally, there could be outside parties, such as vehicle manufacturers or employers, that also have a degree of liability for the wreck. A lawsuit can lead to more thorough compensation in cases where policy limits would prevent someone from fully recouping their losses after a collision.
Understanding the limitations of insurance after a major California car crash may benefit those who are worried about the economic impact of a wreck. Those with major injuries may need to prepare for litigation if insurance is insufficient given the extent of their losses.
