According to the Maine Bureau of Insurance, individuals who own or operate a motor vehicle in Maine are required to carry minimum insurance. Drivers must carry liability insurance, which covers expenses related to bodily injury and property damage for car accidents where the driver is at fault. Minimum liability coverage is $50,000 per person injured, and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage. Maine also requires drivers to have medical payments coverage of $2000, which covers any medical expenses suffered by the driver or his or her passengers. This kind of coverage can help cover medical deductibles in some cases but may not always cover the full deductible for many insurance policies. Finally, all drivers are required to purchase underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage with minimum limits of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident.
The reality is that these minimum coverage limits may not cover the expenses or losses a person might experience in a serious accident. For example, many vehicles are valued at more than $25,000 and a total loss of a vehicle might result in higher value losses than the minimum limit. According to the National Institutes of Health, the average medical costs of non-fatal injuries for a person treated in the emergency room was $6620. Yet, these figures can be far higher for more serious car accident injuries. For example, according to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, the estimated lifetime cost of a spinal cord injury resulting in paraplegia for a person who is 25 years old is $2,310,104. These estimates don’t even begin to account for lost wages and benefits due to these serious injuries.
Fortunately, many drivers purchase additional car insurance, and sometimes underinsured or uninsured insurance coverage may be able to allow you to receive additional damages for a car accident claim. Sometimes, however, victims and their families need to pursue additional damages directly from those responsible for their injuries. In some car accidents involving crimes, like a DUI, victims may also be able to seek money from victim compensation funds. Every car accident claim is different.
If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, the Auburn car accident lawyers at Independence Law Maine may be able to help. We can review your insurance and the insurance policy of the other driver or drivers responsible for your accident, and help you explore the options available to you. You only have a limited time to make a claim under the law. Reach out to the Auburn car accident lawyers at Independence Law Maine today to take the next steps.
