Can You Receive Compensation For A Car Accident Injury If You Don’t Have Insurance?

One of the biggest costs associated with driving and owning a car is auto insurance. Car insurance exists to protect the finances and livelihood of drivers if they are involved in an accident. Serious injuries can force a person to take time off work, lose pay, and miss important life events. Some injuries are so bad that the victim is unable to ever return to life as they knew it before their car accident.

There are measures in place to help car accident victims recover lost finances and receive compensation to help them mend their broken lives. If a person doesn’t have car insurance, however, can they still receive compensation? Here, we’ll find out.

New Hampshire Car Insurance Laws

Laws regarding car insurance vary from state to state. Most states require drivers to carry specific limits of liability and coverage on their automobile. New Hampshire is unique in the fact that it does not require drivers to carry auto insurance. However, if they choose not to carry auto insurance, residents of New Hampshire are required to cover the cost of property damage and bodily injury for accidents they cause.

It is always in a driver’s best interest to purchase auto insurance – even if they don’t believe they will get into a car accident. If an individual chooses to purchase auto insurance in New Hampshire, they must get the minimum limits of liability which are:

• $25,000 in bodily injury coverage per person

• $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident

• $25,000 in property damage coverage per accident

• $1,000 in medical payments per accident

Paying an insurance premium for a policy with these limits works to ensure that drivers will not have to pay for property damage or medical expenses of an accident they caused out of their own pockets.

No Pay No Play States

Some states including Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, North Dakota, Alaska, California, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, and Oregon are considered “No Pay No Play” states. Meaning, if a person does not carry auto insurance, they are not eligible to receive compensation for injuries from a car accident.

Due to the nature of New Hampshire’s laws, individuals who choose not to carry auto insurance do not have to worry about such situations. The most notable risk involved in not carrying car insurance is being forced to find a way to pay for the damages you caused in a car accident out of your own pocket.

In New Hampshire, the minimum limits of liability are also designed to protect you if the person responsible for the accident wasn’t carrying insurance and doesn’t have the money upfront to cover your medical bills.

Reliable Car Accident Attorneys Near You

If you were recently involved in a car accident in New Hampshire, there’s no better time than now to reach out to a trusted attorney. Our attorneys, claims administrators, and paralegals have one focus in mind: getting you the best settlement possible so that you can return to the business of living your life. Call Patch & FitzGerald if you have been injured and let us fight for you and your family.

NO FEE UNLESS YOU WIN!

You don’t have to suffer because of someone else’s negligence. Call our office at 603-647-2600 or contact us online today for a free consultation.

Why You Should Audit Your Car Insurance Policy in 2020

The new year is an ideal time to take a step back and evaluate the different areas of your life. One area that many people forget about is their insurance policies, in particular, their car insurance. When it comes to your insurance, best practice is to review your policy every year to ensure you have the coverage you need and that you are getting what you believe you’re paying for.

Car Insurance Rates Are Going Up

In 2020, multiple states are expected to experience car insurance rate changes. Changes in car insurance rates occur regularly for multiple reasons including an increase in accidents, state laws, and increases in the cost of car parts and labor.

One of the most prominent reasons for rate increases over the past few years and looking forward to 2020 is more accidents related to distracted driving. Instead of following the rules of the road, many drivers choose to text, talk on the phone, and use their devices while behind the wheel. Such accidents have cost insurance companies a lot of money and to make up for it they are charging their clients.

Although there is not much you can do about regulated rate increases, it is in your best interest to know when they are coming so you can budget for them.

You Need The Right Car Insurance Coverage

More important than your insurance rates, however, is your insurance coverage. If you get into a car accident, having the right limits of liability can help protect you from lawsuits and other legal actions. A good rule of thumb to follow regarding your car insurance is to have limits of liability greater than the total value of your assets. Medical bills and rehabilitation is the number one reason people pursue a settlement after a car accident. Therefore, carrying medical payments coverage for your passengers helps cover the cost of their medical bills in the case of an accident where you are the driver.

The best way to ensure you have the right coverage is to sit down with your car insurance agent and discuss your policy. Most agents are willing to go over your policy with you line by line and explain the protection you have.

Although it might cost you a few more dollars every month to increase your car insurance coverage, it pales in comparison to what a serious car accident claim could cost you. Don’t let being underinsured be the reason you can’t achieve your dreams and goals in life – review your car insurance before the next decade begins.

Trusted Car Accident Attorneys in New Hampshire

If you are in a car accident and the other party was not properly covered, call the team at Patch & FitzGerald.  They are committed to winning you the compensation you deserve. They bring a wealth of knowledge to every case and will help you understand the process so you don’t feel lost.

To schedule a free consultation, call 603-647-2600 or contact our team online today.   

Workers’ Comp Insurance Carrier Not Liable For Death of Worker in Overdose:

On August 20, 2019, the NH Supreme Court ruled that an insurance carrier is not liable for the death of an injured worker who died of a heroin and oxycodone overdose after being prescribed opioids for his injury. After his death, his widow filed for death benefits with the workers’ comp insurer. The insurer rejected the claim and the New Hampshire Compensation Appeals Board who found the amount of oxycodone consumed at the time of death was inconsistent with his prescribed dosage.