One of the first steps people typically take after an Ohio car crash is an exchange of personal information. They copy down or photograph information from someone’s driver’s license, vehicle registration and insurance documents. Those details will help them later when they file an insurance claim.
Provided that the other party was at fault for a crash, those involved in an Ohio collision can file an insurance claim for both property damage losses and injury-related expenses. Although many car crashes only require insurance, a small but significant number of collisions lead to litigation instead. People are often skeptical about the need for litigation when securing insurance coverage is mandatory. Why are lawsuits so common after car crashes if the state requires everyone to carry insurance?
Insurance is not always generous
Insurance companies typically negotiate sizable claims to reduce how much they actually pay. Regardless of how generous the policy may seem, the company that underwrote the policy is likely to scrutinize every detail during the claims process to minimize what it pays after the wreck.
Most drivers do not have particularly large policies and only purchase the coverage that Ohio law requires. Quite a few Ohio drivers have a basic policy with $25,000 worth of property damage coverage. The bodily injury coverage available on such policies will depend on the number of people hurt. The state requires $25,000 in coverage for situations involving one hurt person and $50,000 of coverage if two or more people end up hurt. While that coverage is better than nothing, it could be far less than the total costs of the wreck.
There is not always available insurance
Although Ohio law does require insurance from drivers, some people do not maintain consistent coverage. There are people who intentionally cancel their insurance and others who fail to make payments, leading to a lapse in coverage. Sometimes, drivers have uninsured and underinsured motorist protection, but making a large claim against their own policy could lead to a significant increase in their premiums later even though they aren’t at fault for the crash.
Filing a lawsuit against a driver who caused a crash with bad insurance, inadequate coverage or no insurance at all can help ensure that the appropriate party pays for the consequences of a wreck.