Four Types of Car Insurance Recommended by a Cleveland Car Accident Attorney July 12, 2012.

Part of responsible driving is carrying car insurance, and in many cases, it is best to go above and beyond the minimum state requirements. In Ohio, there are four types of optional car insurance that can become extremely important if you are ever injured in a car accident. By carrying full coverage plus additional elements, your Cleveland car accident attorney can help you seek a full and fair settlement.

Underinsured and Uninsured Motorist Car Insurance Coverage

Having the optional underinsured and uninsured car insurance coverage is extremely important if the other driver’s car insurance does not cover the full extent of your injuries. When another party is found to be more at fault than you are, their car insurance pays for your damages. However, if they carry only the minimum amounts or no insurance at all, you may come up short when seeking compensation for your damages.

Underinsured motorist coverage is when the other driver has policy limits that are not substantial enough to cover your medical expenses. In Ohio, the minimum car insurance requirements are $12,500 per person for injuries, $25,000 total for injuries in any single accident, and $7,500 for property damage. These amounts may seem like a lot, but consider a catastrophic injury, such as brain damage, that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in hospital treatments, surgeries, and therapy over a lifetime.

Uninsured motorist coverage is perhaps the most important type of additional car insurance coverage you can add to your policy. This coverage provides compensation for when the other driver does not have car insurance of their own. Most importantly, this coverage is what will be paying your medical bills when you are in a car accident with a hit and run driver, as there is no other insurance company to file a claim with since the driver fled the scene.

Medical Payments and Gap Car Insurance Coverage

In a non-fatal car accident, your biggest financial loss will be in terms of medical bills. Treatment for serious injuries can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of a lifetime. Even injuries that can be treated within a matter of weeks or months can still cause hefty medical expenses. By opting for the medical payments coverage, you and your passengers will be covered for medical expenses incurred in a car accident. This coverage extends to your household members and even provides coverage if you were a pedestrian who was hit by a vehicle.

Gap coverage is also known as loan or lease payoff insurance. This is important coverage to have if you financed or leased your vehicle. As long as you have collision and comprehensive coverage, you can opt to carry this type of car insurance to reimburse you for a total loss on your vehicle.

While this only matters in terms of property damage and not injury, it is important to consider that you won’t want to worry about the hassle of dealing with a vehicle loss when you’re trying to recover from your injuries or the loss of a loved one. Gap insurance can help you get another vehicle much faster by reimbursing you for the value of your totaled vehicle minus what you owed to the finance company.

Your Cleveland Car Accident Attorney Can Help You Understand Coverage

While your attorney won’t be able to get you additional coverage to make up for gaps in your policy after an accident, they can help you understand what damages you can seek in an injury claim. You have many resources aside from your own car insurance that can help pay for your damages and losses, and your attorney can help you seek a full and fair settlement.

Before Dealing with Your Car Insurance Company, Talk to a Cleveland Car Accident Attorney

While you can’t add additional coverage to support a recent car accident claim, you can find help with pursuing additional methods of compensation. A Cleveland car accident attorney from Mellino Law Firm, LLC is here to help you maximize the settlement you are entitled to when another driver’s negligence causes you serious injury. Contact us today at (440) 333-3800.