Even though laws requiring auto insurance can be strict, not every driver follows them. If you have been in a motor vehicle accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, you may have more options than you realize. Before you settle with any insurance company, contact our firm to learn about your legal rights and options.
Representing West Virginia Personal Injury Victims
Motor vehicle accidents can result in extremely serious injuries that can have lingering effects for months or even years after the initial incident. The law provides certain rights to injury victims, and it is important that you have an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side who can work to ensure that those rights are protected.
At the Beckley, West Virginia based Law Office of Stephen New, we work with clients who have suffered injuries due to the negligence of another. We work tirelessly to see that the responsible parties are held accountable for the harm they have caused. We seek out all responsible parties including drivers, equipment manufacturers and any others.
Contact our office today to learn more about how we can help you.
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Attorney Stephen New is a native of southern West Virginia who has spent his entire career protecting the rights of injury victims. Contact the Law Office of Stephen New today to discuss your case.
You may be entitled to collect damages for the injuries you have suffered in a motor vehicle accident. Contact the Law Office of Stephen New to learn more about your legal options.
No-Fault Insurance
When a driver has been in an accident, no-fault auto insurance allows the driver to collect from his or her insurance company no matter who was at fault. Not every state has a no-fault insurance structure, but those that do have very specific laws governing when, how much and for how long the injured party may collect. Contact Law Office of Stephen New in Beckley,to schedule a consultation with a personal injury attorney to discuss how West Virginia views fault and to determine how the laws may affect your right to recover damages for injuries.
How No-Fault Insurance Works
No-fault insurance is a system in which auto insurance pays benefits to the insured driver in case of an accident. The insurance compensates the insured driver for monetary losses, no matter who was at fault. This is contrary to systems in which the at-fault driver's insurance company must pay the bulk of the compensation after an investigation and determination of fault by the insurance companies or the courts.
The system is designed to streamline the process of payments to injured people and to lower the burden on the courts. Under the no-fault insurance system, it can be more difficult to sue an at-fault driver for damages; the insured typically must have been quite seriously injured in order to take such legal action. On the other hand, monetary recovery for the insured is more certain under no-fault insurance because the compensation is immediately available through the insurance policy of the injured party. No-fault insurance policies often have a cap on the compensation they will pay.
The no-fault insurance system prevents injured parties from receiving a windfall due to the accident, but it also ensures compensation no matter who caused the accident. In a no-fault state, the other driver will also receive compensation from his or her insurance company if that driver sustained certain economic losses. The specifics of no-fault insurance laws vary widely by state.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
If you have a no-fault insurance policy, it is probably called a personal injury protection (PIP) package. PIP insurance pays for the medical expenses of the insured driver and the passengers who were injured in an auto accident. PIP insurance typically covers things like medical bills, wage loss and funeral expenses, but not pain and suffering or vehicle damage. This varies by state and particular insurance policy. The PIP packages have limits on what they will pay.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
How you handle the situation after a motor vehicle accident can make a significant difference in your monetary recovery. Dealing with insurance companies can be especially tricky. In addition, the no-fault and fault insurance systems vary widely by state. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer from Law Office of Stephen New in Beckley, West Virginia, will help to clear up the confusion these systems can cause.
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