Compensation Available in a No Injury Car Accident
In Texas, if another driver causes your car accident, his or her car insurance company will have to pay for your losses. This includes your medical bills, property repairs, pain and suffering, and lost wages from missed work. If you do not have any injuries from the collision, you could still be eligible for financial compensation for your other losses.
Vehicle Repairs or Replacement
Every driver in Texas must purchase at least $25,000 in property damage liability insurance. This type of auto insurance will pay for the repairs your vehicle requires, up to the policy's maximum. If the car accident totaled your vehicle, meaning the cost of repairs is more than the total value of the car, the other driver's insurance company will be responsible for reimbursing you for the full pre-crash market value of the vehicle. The other driver’s insurance will also pay if you had to rent a car while yours was in the shop.
Lost Wages
If the car accident took you out of work, such as for a medical evaluation or to deal with your wrecked car, you can list lost wages as part of your claim. List the amount you would have received at your job had the car accident not interfered with your ability to work. Although your lost wages may not be as significant as they would be if you had been injured, you can still report missed earnings, employment benefits or opportunities. You can also seek financial compensation for any sick days or vacation days you had to use because of the car accident.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering is a broad damage category that encompasses many different types of noneconomic or intangible losses. These include mental anguish, emotional distress, and physical pain and suffering you endured because of the car accident. It can also include lost quality of life, lost enjoyment of life and psychiatric issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder. If you lost a loved one in a car accident, you may also be eligible for compensation for your grief and loss of consortium. Even if you were not physically injured, if the car accident caused any noneconomic damage, the other driver may owe you compensation.
Who Is Responsible?
The person or party responsible for paying for your losses during a no-injury car accident claim depends on many factors, including the laws in your state and the cause of the crash. Texas is a fault state, meaning the insurance system holds the driver or party at fault for causing the crash financially responsible for related losses. It will be up to you or your
car accident lawyer to determine and prove fault during your car accident claim.
Most car accident cases in San Antonio name another driver as the at-fault party or defendant. The other driver could be responsible for paying for your related bills if he or she was careless, reckless or distracted and this caused the collision. The defendant could also be the manufacturer of your vehicle if a part defect caused the crash, or the government if a roadway hazard was to blame. A lawyer can help you determine and prove fault for your collision.
How Much Is Your Case Worth?
Although the value of your car accident case will be reduced if you have no physical injuries, the law may still entitle you to financial compensation for the losses you did suffer. The value of your case will depend on factors such as the value of your vehicle, the extent of your damage, your income level, the number of days you had to take off of work and the car insurance that is available.
For an accurate evaluation of the value of your car accident case,
contact an attorney in San Antonio for a free consultation. An attorney will provide an in-depth evaluation to estimate the worth of your no-injury claim. Then, if your case would benefit from legal representation, a lawyer can help you fight for fair financial compensation from an insurance company.
