If you got in an accident and the person who caused it was not the vehicle’s original owner, you might be confused about the claim process. When the at-fault driver uses a borrowed car, the victims are unsure about whose insurance policy will be applied. If you are struggling with filing an injury claim, contact a car accident lawyer to discuss the legal options available for your case. They assist in determining liability for the accident so that you can recover the damages caused by accident, including the medical costs, pain, suffering, and other financial losses.
Does Knsurance Cover The Car Or The Driver?
Liability insurances cover the car, not the driver, unless the damages exceed the policy coverage limit. If the liability policy for the vehicle is not adequate for the coverage of injuries and other financial damages, then the victim can file a claim through the driver’s insurance. The liability coverage is primary insurance, and the driver’s insurance is secondary insurance due to its applicability and nature.
If you get involved in an accident with a borrowed car with a specific liability insurance policy, your claim will be filed with the primary insurance. If the coverage limit is crossed and the treatment costs are not fulfilled, a claim will be filed through the driver’s personal insurance, i.e., the secondary one.
Who Is Covered Under The insurance?
The person who is authorized to drive helps in determining liability. The insured driver can mention other authorized drivers in the policy. These drivers will also be covered in case an accident takes place. Close family members like spouses, parents, or children are included as additional authorized drivers. If the authorized driver mentioned in the policy gets in an accident, the insurance company will pay for the damages caused by the accident. It can include compensation for medical expenses, damage to property, etc.
But suppose an unauthorized person borrows the vehicle and gets in an accident. In that case, the vehicle owner’s insurance company will reject the claim as it only covers the authorized people. In those cases, compensation can be derived by filing a claim through the at-fault driver’s personal liability insurance.
If the vehicle was being driven by someone not permitted by the original owner, then any accident caused by the car will not be compensated by the owner. The vehicle’s legal owner cannot be held liable for recovering any losses that took place due to the accident. Such accident cases arise when vehicles get stolen.
What Should You Do?
Getting financial compensation for a car accident can be complex, let alone for accidents involving borrowed vehicles. The insurance company will use various tactics to deny or lower your compensation amount. They may also tell you that you are not eligible for compensation. However, it is vital to be aware of your rights and protect them.
In such cases, the first step you should take is to speak to an experienced car accident lawyer. The lawyers know how to protect your rights. When searching for the best car accident lawyer, make sure you check their previous client testimonials and ensure they have experience in handling similar cases like yours.
Once you find the perfect lawyer for your case, let them know all the details about the accident. Once the lawyer understands your case, they will help explore all possible options. Furthermore, the lawyer will also assist in gathering evidence and taking the right approach to get successful compensation. Without a lawyer, getting compensation can become tricky. So, make sure to speak to a lawyer about your case and get the deserving compensation.
