Most people assume that if someone else causes a wreck, that person’s insurance will take care of everything. Then the adjuster calls with an offer that barely covers the ambulance ride, and it becomes clear that the size of the insurance policy matters almost as much as the size of the injury.
Policy limits are the maximum an insurance company will pay on a claim, and in Louisiana they are often far lower than the cost of a serious injury.
If you’ve been hurt in a crash, a Lafayette car accident lawyer at Anderson Blanda & Saltzman can help you determine how much coverage is available and where else compensation might come from.
What a Policy Limit Actually Means
Louisiana requires drivers to carry a minimum amount of insurance coverage. The current minimum amount is known as 15/30/25. This means coverage up to $15,000 for one person’s injury, up to $30,000 if two or more people are injured, and up to $25,000 for property damage.
Many drivers carry only those minimums, and it is often woefully insufficient to cover damages in a car accident.
The limit isn’t what you’ll receive. It’s the most the insurer will pay, no matter how badly you’re hurt. If your losses come to $200,000 and the at-fault driver carries a $15,000 policy, that driver’s insurance company generally won’t go a dollar higher.
Where Else Coverage Can Come From
Besides the at-fault driver’s own policy, compensation can sometimes come from the vehicle owner if someone else was driving. It can also come from an umbrella policy the driver carries. If a bar overserved a drunk driver, or a trucking company, rideshare company, or delivery service was involved, their insurers may be responsible too. Each of these has its own rules, and a quick look at the police report won’t reveal most of them.
What If the Other Driver Can’t Pay the Rest?
Once the insurance runs out, the at-fault driver is personally responsible for the difference, at least on paper. A court can enter a judgment for the full amount of your damages. Collecting on that judgment is another matter. Many people simply don’t have the assets, and Louisiana law protects certain property from creditors.
That is why we investigate coverage so early in a case. A large judgment against someone with nothing to collect is a hollow victory.
The Choice You Make Before a Crash Ever Happens
Uninsured motorist coverage is one of the most valuable protections a Louisiana driver can have, and it’s also one of the easiest to accidentally give up. Insurers must include it unless you reject it or choose lower limits in writing. That form often gets signed at the agent’s desk along with a dozen other papers.
If you’re not sure what you have, pull out your declarations page or call your agent. Matching your UM coverage to your liability limits costs less than most people expect, and it protects you from drivers who carry the bare minimum or nothing at all.
Talk With Anderson Blanda & Saltzman
Low policy limits don’t always mean a low recovery. They mean we have to do the work carefully. Our attorneys bring more than 100 years of combined experience to every case, and we’ve recovered more than $300 million for our clients.
Most Louisiana injury claims must be filed within two years, so don’t wait to get answers. Call us today at (337) 233-3366 or complete the short form on our contact page for a free consultation.